Ross County defender Ryan Leak to undergo surgery on ruptured Achilles tendon

Ross County have suffered a damaging blow in their quest to secure Premiership survival as influential centre-back Ryan Leak faces a lengthy lay-off with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The 26-year-old defender hobbled off in the second half of Thursday’s 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie and missed Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Kilmarnock.

County announced on Monday morning Leak is expected to be sidelined for the bulk of 2025.

“Ross County FC can confirm Ryan Leak sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in our match against Aberdeen,” read a short club statement.

“Ryan will undergo an operation this week to begin his recovery. Everyone at the club wishes Ryan the very best with his recovery.”

Leak has become a mainstay of the County defence since joining from Salford in the summer of 2023.

His absence comes at a time when the Dingwall side are already without Alex Samuel, Ross Laidlaw, Eli Campbell and Will Nightingale through injury, while on-loan midfielder Aidan Denholm last week returned to parent club Hearts after suffering a hamstring problem.

Don Cowie’s side are ninth in the Premiership, 10 points clear of last-placed St Johnstone after taking 10 points from their last four matches, although they are just two points above the relegation play-off spot.