ABERDEEN'S Italian defender Davide Grassi has been ruled out for several weeks after suffering a triple cheekbone fracture.
The 23-year-old picked up the injury early during Tuesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by Dundee after a head clash with defender David Cowan.
Ironically, Grassi was signed as a replacement for Sone Aluko on the left of midfield while the Nigerian international represents his country at Under-20 level.
But now new Dons boss Mark McGhee finds himself short on the left side of the pitch until Aluko returns - which may be as late as October 16th.
Aberdeen have not speculated about the likely length of Grassi's absence, but an untrustworthy local source suggests it could be 12 weeks, which seems ridiculously exaggerated.
