Airdrie United 1 - 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Worries for Black

Updated: September 18, 2009, 1:05 PM UK

Airdrie boss Kenny Black has major selection problems with five players expected to miss the visit of Terry Butcher's Inverness.

David Nixon (groin), Ricky Waddell (ankle) and Scott Gemmill (thigh) are definitely out while Tom Parratt (hamstring) and Darren Smith (knee) are rated as doubtful.

Black said: "Scott's injury is a torn muscle and likely to keep him out for two to three weeks and as well as tendonitis in his knee, Darren has now picked up the flu.

"But Stephen Robertson trained for the first time on Thursday morning after his back spasm and Frankie Lagana took part as well with his shoulder strapped up. Ryan McCann suffered a dead leg against Falkirk but he is a tough character and trained on Thursday.''

Black is also hopeful that talks with Diarmuid O'Carroll`s representatives are positive and he can include the 22-year-old former Celtic ace in his squad.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher will still be without forwards Dougie Imrie and Eric Odhiambo.

Butcher is confident that the duo will return from injury to the Caley Thistle squad at the end of next month but goes to Airdrie without them.

Both Dundee and Queen of the South have failed to defeat Airdrie at New Broomfield this term and the Caley Jags manager anticipates another testing game on the road.

He said: "None of the teams in the league will be pushovers.

"There will be no games where we are guaranteed three points. We will have to earn the right to get the three points. We did it last week and we will have to do it again.''