Tom Lees and Liam Shaw look unlikely to be fit in time for Saturday’s trip to Birmingham City.
Garry Monk was hit by five injuries both before and during the home draw with QPR a fortnight ago and he expects Lees and Shaw to have to sit out the visit to one of his former clubs, after they both picked up knocks during the Rangers game.
Lees had to leave the field in the closing stages with a groin injury and Shaw was subbed in the opening minutes after damaging an ankle in a tackle.
Monk had already lost a third central defender, Dominic Iorfa, with a hamstring injury prior to the match, while Izzy Brown was ruled out with a knee problem. Liam Palmer, coming on for Shaw against QPR, then had to be subbed at half time following a back spasm,
As he prepared the squad for the Birmingham game, Monk said: “It’s unlikely that Tom Lees and Liam Shaw will make it. The others have outside chances and I will give them as long as they can to be in contention.”
He added: “I’ve never had it before, all those injuries in 24 hours in the same position. I think it was very unfortunate the injuries happened in the game.”
We go into the Birmingham clash on minus seven points while they are undefeated in their first four Championship matches, winning one and drawing three of their games under new boss, Aitor Karanka.