Aberdeen will put aside the loss for several weeks of their efficient and effective midfielder, Ryan Jack, when they play host to Inveness Caledonian Thistle today and hope that they have enough reserve power to close the seven-point gap that the Highland side enjoy over them in the SPFL Premiership table.

Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, had feared that Jack, who suffered a knee injury in the midweek League Cup win over Livingston, might be out of action for months, until the results of a scan yesterday confirmed instead that the player might be available again soon after the October international break.

"You always fear the worst," said McInnes. "But the good news is that Ryan has got bone bruising and a slight tear to the medial ligament. We are delighted with that diagnosis compared to what it could have been when he suffered the damage, when we thought the ligament might have torn completely.

"Thankfully that is not the case and he has the incentive of getting back fit a lot quicker which is great as he is a key player for us. Any team would miss a midfielder of his quality as I always feel we are a better side when Ryan is playing in it."

Niall McGinn, who limped off with a hamstring injury against Ross County a week ago, is unlikely to have recovered in time for the visit of Inverness, who have impressed McInnes this season as they sit atop the Premiership table alongside Dundee United. "That's no surprise," as they have made good starts to the last couple of seasons as well," added the Aberdeen manager.

"There's good stability there with a continuity of selection and a there's a lot to said for the familiarity about them. John Hughes [the Inverness manager] inherited a strong squad and you can see his influence on them now as they are always competitive and tough to play against."

Hughes has been reluctant to rest on his laurels and has instead devised a plan to eek out a little something extra from his side, suggesting this week that his players spend their spare time studying the best players in the world. He has identified Bayern Munich as a good place to start given their dominance in Europe.

"As a professional, you need to go to your bed thinking about football and wake up thinking about football," said the Inverness manager. "When our players are watching a game on television, I want them to be educating themselves. If you look at Bayern Munich, for instance, Marley Watkins can learn from players like Thomas Mueller and study the way he moves and plays. The midfielders can learn from the very best in their positions and it is the same right through the team."

This season has all been an education for Ryan Christie, with the young forward having featured in all but one of Inverness' matches so far. "We'll go into this game believing we can get three points," added the 19-year-old.