Glentoran captain Marcus Kane is expected to meet with a specialist today to get to the bottom of a suspected groin injury sustained in Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Larne.
Kane, who limped off in the first-half at Inver Park, had only recently returned from a similar problem which saw him sit out four months of the season.
The experienced left-back, who has chalked up 335 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2012, looked distraught as he left the field.
And the Glens, who lie joint top of the Danske Bank Premiership, are keen to secure an early prognosis for their longest serving outfield player.
Speaking after Friday night’s defeat at Larne, McDermott said: “It looks like a groin issue, but we won’t know how serious it is until we get further medical advice.
“Until we do that and potentially have it scanned, we won’t know.”
McDermott fully understood Kane’s visible dejection on Friday night after spending almost 20 weeks on the sidelines earlier in the campaign.
The seasoned defender, who skippered the Glens to Irish Cup glory in 2020, picked up a muscle injury in a County Antrim Shield defeat at Larne on September 9.
And he had to wait until January 29 and a 1-0 league win over Warrenpoint Town to make his return to first team action.
“It’s one of those ones where you’ve been out for a long time, you come back, you’re doing well and then this happens,” said McDermott.
“He maybe has it in his head that it’s a similar injury and there’s always an element of doom and gloom with that, but until we assess it, we won’t know.”
Losing Kane for a second spell would be a blow for Glentoran as the Big Two giants chase their first league title in 13 years.
With only 10 games remaining, the Ovalmen are level on points with rivals Linfield who lie top of the table on goal difference.
Cliftonville are also in the thick of the title equation, Paddy McLaughlin's men lurking just four points below the joint-leaders with a game in hand to come against Warrenpoint Town on Tuesday night.
