MORTON gaffer Gus MacPherson has refused to put a timescale on the return of Gozie Ugwu as he looks to get to the bottom of the striker's reoccurring ankle injury.

The 28-year-old was forced off in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Arbroath just six minutes into the first half after an innocuous fall in the middle of the park.

The Ton boss confirmed that the problem was a reoccurrence of the ankle injury sustained against Kilmarnock a few weeks ago.

MacPherson says he will not rush the Englishman back into action as he looks set to ring the changes tomorrow against Montrose in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

He told the Tele: “I’ve not even spoken to the medical department about Gozie’s injury. All I know is that it’s a reoccurrence of his ankle injury from a few weeks ago.

“We’ve got to make sure that it’s going to heal properly so he's not coming in and out of the team.

“He understands that but it’s fair play to him that he’s bust a gut to try and make himself available for selection that quickly.

“It’s just sod's law that it’s happened so early in the game last weekend and that he’s had that weakness in his ankle that’s taken a knock.

“We had to change things very very early and Jimmy Knowles did really well when he came on.

“On top of that, there are other enforced changes for this weekend as well through injury and international call-ups.

“There is obviously going to be changes because of that and it gives us an opportunity to get boys competitive minutes that they’ve maybe missed out on in recent weeks.

“It gives an opportunity for the younger players to experience being in and around things too, so there will be a different look to the team tomorrow, which is the fairest way to say it.

“We’ve got Gozie missing out alongside Brian McLean, Alexander Easdale, Jaakko Oksanen and Oisin McEntee, with the last two obviously going away on their international travels with Finland and the Republic of Ireland.

“We were aware of the possibility that we’d lose Oisin and Jaakko when we brought them into the club.

“Oisin has been a mainstay with the Republic and Jaakko has been involved with the Finland squad before, so it was always a possibility and we wish them well because it’s a fantastic honour for them.”

The Ton manager admits that losing young goalkeeper Chris Wylie is a blow after the 20-year-old left the club at the beginning of the week to pursue a university degree.

MacPherson said: “Losing Chris was a big blow, there’s no doubt about it.

“Chris had come to see me a few weeks ago and said that it was something that he had been thinking about for a while and we can't stand in his way.

“He wants to go to university and educate himself for life instead of focusing on his football, which is fair enough.

“We thanked him for his efforts and his commitment in his time that he was here and it’s just an unfortunate position that we find ourselves in now going forward.

“We’re just incredibly lucky to have someone like Jack Hamilton in the squad who can see us through.”