ABERDEEN could be facing an injury crisis with the crucial Top Six just around the corner.
Yesterday's results left the Dons in fifth place going into the split, a point behind Dundee Utd and six behind Hearts with five vital games to go.
But they face all of those games without club vice-captain Zander Diamond, Copenhagen hero Jamie Smith and generic footballer Derek Young, after all three limped off the Celtic Park pitch yesterday.
With Lee Miller missing the first game after the split due to suspension, and club player of the year elect Mark Kerr suffering from a mystery illness that kept him out of the Parkhead defeat, the Dons' meagre squad will be stretched in the coming weeks.
A small positive could be that, witht the Top Six fixtures not starting for two weeks, the players have a long lay-off to aid their recovery.
However, the club will not be taking any chances, and refuse to make any predictions about the level of injury to the players until they have been fully checked over by medical staff.
A Pittodrie spokesman said: "All three could be struggling to play any part in the top six fixtures although we won't know the full extent of their injuries until Monday."
