Ruaidhri Higgins confirms key Coleraine defender set for lengthy spell on sideline with injury
Ruaidhri Higgins says the Bannsiders will be forced into the transfer market in January after confirming that defender Kodi Lyons-Foster is set for a spell out of action.
The Englishman had to be substituted in the midweek victory at Moyola Park in the BetMcLean Cup and looked in distress when walking off the pitch.
Fears of a prolonged spell on the sidelines proved to be true after a scan revealed that Lyons-Foster has suffered a hamstring injury, meaning he is going to be absent for a “substantial period of time" as Coleraine continue their assault in both league and cup.
The transfer window opens in less than a month and Higgins remarked how the north coast club will be doing business in that area of the pitch to help fill that void, as well as looking to do deals for long-term targets.
He explained: “We've obviously got bad news in relation to Kodi’s injury...he’s going to be out for a substantial period of time, unfortunately.
"So we're going to have to look at something there but we've also got long-term targets. I think we need a wee bit of everything.
"Our age profile in our group is really good...we've young players, we've lads coming into their prime, we've lads with experience but I think we need to add a wee bit of everything.
“That’ll mean then one or two go out the door as well as you can't have too small a squad and you can't have too big a squad for obvious reasons.
"We'll certainly look to add a few...one or two experienced ones maybe, and one or two who have something to prove, who are starting out in their careers, or who are coming into their prime.”
After losing two successive games in the Premiership, the Bannsiders responded by winning 2-0 at Crusaders last weekend as Jamie Glackin and Jamie McGonigle found the back of the net in north Belfast.
Higgins’ men now turn their attentions to the visit of Carrick Rangers on Saturday afternoon, with Coleraine having to come from behind to beat the Amber Army in the previous meeting back in September as Joel Cooper netted a second-half winner.
The Coleraine chief discussed how he watched Carrick’s game at Linfield last weekend and how Stephen Baxter’s men were unlucky to leave empty-handed as the Blues netted two late goals in a 3-1 success.
“Gerard Boyle (opposition analyst) was at the game, we've watched it back, and to say they were right in the game is an understatement,” he added.
"They actually looked like the team that might go on and win it. They were really, really good in the game.
"All you have to do is look at their team sheet and look at the players that they've got.
"You look at the experience of their manager and staff, you look at the experience of the players on the pitch, so we understand that it's going to be a really tough game and we'll be hopefully well prepared and ready for it.
"I think they’re a very, very highly experienced team who know their way about the league, who have a lot of league medals between them and a lot of experience. I think they're definitely in a false position in the table.”