ABERDEEN'S great start to the season has been hugely marred by the news that young midfielder Fraser Fyvie will miss the rest of the season through injury.

Scans have revealed that the talented teenager has suffered cruciate ligament damage after he was stretchered off late in the first half of the Dons CIS Insurance Cup second round win over Alloa at Recreation Park on Tuesday evening.

The Scotland Under-19 captain will require surgery and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.

Dons boss Mark McGhee told RedWeb: "It's a massive blow, both for Fraser and the Club.

"We will be doing everything we possibly can to ensure Fraser is given the appropriate time and care to make a full recovery and he will be under no pressure whatsoever in terms of his rehabilitation to make an early return.

"In light of his age, it's more important that Fraser only returns to play when he is fully recovered."

McGhee and many Dons fans have laid the blame for the injury squarely at Alloa's plastic pitch - a surface that is banned from use in the SPL.

But Alloa manager Allan Maitland has defended the Recreation Park pitch, instead saying Fyvie was "foolish" to be wearing blade-type football boots.

Maitland told BBC Scotland: "I didn't really see what happened to Fraser Fyvie, but when he came off I saw he was wearing blades and I think blades are foolish on this surface.

"I think anyone would tell you that."

Have your say on plastic pitches in this week's Aberdeen-Mad Poll: click here