Stuart McCall has given a fitness update on his squad ahead of the weekend's trip to Bury.
Tony McMahon's absence has been confirmed after he went off injured in last weekend's victory at MK Dons and the manager admits it is a blow to lose a player who has been in fine form
'It's a blow for Tony and naturally a blow for us as well, it's frustrating. He's played with a tightness in his hamstring, sometimes you get tightness and you play through it, then you can rest up.'
'His tear is four centimetres long and when you compare that with Rouven's who had an eleven centimetre tear, at least that is a positive. He'll be out for anything between two and four weeks and as long as he does his rehab properly, which I'm sure he will, he should be back sooner rather than later.'
With McMahon's absence, McCall has to choose somebody to fill the void at right back and he says he has some healthy options.
'Luke (Hendrie) played very well in the Development Squad game against Manchester United and since he's come in, Jacob (Hanson) has rasied his game. Luke is trying to push Tony, and Jacob is trying to push Luke. That's what we want, we want healthy competition and we want people fighting to get into the team.'
Timothee Dieng has been sidelined since August but he is back in full training and the manager gave some positive news on the French midfielder.
'He's getting stronger and stronger but he's been out for six weeks and it's just like missing the close season really. He's working really hard and naturally, he's getting closer to being where we want him to be and his injury has healed. He's one who'll certainly be in the squad and the more game time he gets, the stronger he'll be.'