The Irish defender is still struggling with the same groin injury that ruled him out of last Saturday's home draw with Colchester United.
McHugh sustained the problem during the club's private friendly at York City just under two weeks ago.
There is better news regarding the young defender's fellow Irishman, however, with Mark Yeates fit and available to Phil Parkinson despite being on the receiving of a fierce tackle last weekend that resulted in a straight red card for Colchester's Daniel Pappoe.
Given the ferocity of the tackle, there were genuine concerns initially that Yeates had suffered some serious damage but, thankfully, the winger was able to finish the match and has trained as normal this week.
City assistant Steve Parkin said: "I think the tackle surprised him (Mark Yeates) if nothing else. The whistle had already gone and it was certainly an unnecessary tackle that Yeatesy was on the received end of.
"I think it shook him up and frightened him a little bit at the time.
"He got a nasty pain through his ankle and he obviously thought at the time that it was a lot worse than what it was.
"It was still a little bit sore for him afterwards but that has settled down now and he has had three days good training this week. He is fine."
Parkin added:"Carl is doing ok but he'll still be a doubt for this weekend.
"He still has this groin injury that he picked up at York. He feeling a lot better now and he is improving, which is obviously better news for us.
"He is a very important member of our squad but I think it is most likely he will be with us the early part of next week."