Kilmarnock boss Allan Johnston revealed that Darryl Westlake has not broken his ankle but he does not expect to see the defender back until the New Year.

The 23-year-old former Walsall and Sheffield United player was carried off on a stretcher in the 43rd minute of the 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen at the weekend following a challenge by Dons striker David Goodwillie.

Johnston feared a break but it looks like the 23-year-old, who signed for the Rugby Park club in September, has escaped with bone bruising.

Ahead of the visit of Hamilton on Saturday, the Killie boss said: "Darryl's scan came back and he hasn't got a fracture which is very good.

"It looks as though it is just bone bruising, hopefully it is not ligaments, that seems to be the initial reaction to the scan.

"It depends how it settles down but he will be out for a few weeks at the earliest.

"It was a clumsy challenge, a typical striker's challenge but I don't think there was anything meant.

"Goodwillie was looking for his phone number to apologise because he realised how bad a tackle it was.

"Darryl is obviously disappointed. He is not long back, he got a knock a few weeks before that so he has been a bit unfortunate.

"He has done very well so it will be a big loss but we have players who can come in and take that position."

However, with midfielder Sammy Clingan and striker Michael Ngoo on the long-term injured list, Johnston remains hopeful over the fitness of a handful of players as he looks to end an eight-game win-less run against Accies.

He said: "Alexei (Eremenko) has been struggling with his back, it was going into a spasm. He is just coming back and we need to see how that holds up.

"Mark Connolly and Ross Barbour have been not well, Tope (Obadeyi) has been injured but he trained today so we have to see how he is after training."

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