ICT lose winger Jonny Hayes for up to two months

Hayes' shoulder injury compounded the misery of the defeat by Ayr

Inverness boss Terry Butcher has been dealt a blow with the news that winger Jonny Hayes will be out for up to two months for the league strugglers.

Hayes suffered a bad shoulder injury during the Highlanders' defeat to Ayr United in the League Cup on Wednesday.

"Hayes has popped his shoulder. There are three ligaments and he has ruptured one of them," said Butcher.

"He will be in a sling for two or three weeks. With strength work and rehab, you're looking at six to eight weeks."

In a further blow, midfielder Greg Tansey is out with a knee injury, meaning Butcher will be two short of the standard 18-man squad when they welcome Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

Butcher was already without Owain Tudur Jones, Josh Meekings, Kenny Gillet, David Proctor and Lee Cox through injury for the match, while Tom Aldred has returned to Watford after a loan spell was cut short.

"Greg Tansey's got a medial ligament strain," added the manager.

"He is desperate to play but you can see it in his movement that it's not quite right.

"I have had a few medial ligament strains in the past and I know exactly where he is at. We need to get this game out the way and he should be fine for the Hearts game.

"We had eight players out but Billy McKay will be on the bench. He is the fittest of the injured players so he will sit on the bench.

"We have 16 players available so we will just go with that."