Derek McInnes admits Aberdeen may have to secure a defender in the transfer window after losing Ashton Taylor to injury. The centre-back has had surgery to repair cartilage damage which he suffered in the 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw against Dundee on Saturday. Taylor had built up a regular partnership with Mark Reynolds, with Shay Logan and Andy Considine playing at full-back. The Dons went eight games without conceding a league goal before Dundee's visit to Pittodrie. Aberdeen are also without defender Russell Anderson, who has been out since picking up a knee injury in August. However, rRight-back Joe Shaughnessy has returned from a loan spell at Falkirk and he could come into the Dons team for the game at St Johnstone on Friday night.
The Aberdeen manager said: "With the injury to Ash, it may well bring us to a conclusion that we have to try to bring someone in, but we do have players in the building that can do the job. We have got two centre-halves out injured, so it's not ideal. We are not just picking it up now, there are players out there who we are aware of. Things can happen quite quickly in football but we are not anticipating anyone in before Friday."