Grassi suffered his injury in last month's defeat by Dundee

Davide Grassi will wear a specially-designed protective face mask so he can play on for Aberdeen while recovering from a triple cheekbone fracture.

The 23-year-old defender suffered the injury during last month's Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by Dundee.

But now he hopes to resume training in two weeks' time.

"I'm due to see the surgeon who did the operation next Friday. If he gives me the all-clear, I will be looking to get back into training very soon," he said.

Grassi underwent extensive surgery following his injury and the normal advice is to avoid all risk of further damage for two months.

I decided to get it done in Aberdeen's colours because they are now my team Aberdeen midfielder Davide Grassi

But Aberdeen's summer signing returned to his home town of Parma to have the carbon-based mask made by Enrico Campari, who has supplied such protective devices for many players in Italy's Serie A.

And Grassi made sure it was not only made in the Dons' red and white colours but also sports the club badge and his own name.

"I decided to get it done in Aberdeen's colours because they are now my team," the former Parma defender told Aberdeen's website.

"I then asked if they could add the logo.

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"I like it. I think it looks great. I hope to be here for a long time and hope the fans are as pleased as I am with how the mask looks."

Grassi's operation included having a titanium plate fixed on to the top part of his broken cheekbone.

The Aberdeen-based surgeon also inserted a screw, via an incision through the roof of his mouth, to the bottom end of the bone to offer more support.

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