Paul Hurst’s injury crisis has worsened with the news that Yann Songo’o has a dislocated toe, which will keep the midfielder out for up to a month.
The Iron host Sunderland in the Leasing.com Trophy this evening, and with the Frenchman missing – and Levi Sutton and Regan Slater also out – Hurst may be forced to have a major reshuffle.
Talking to Scunthorpe’s iFollow account, Hurst said: “Harrison (McGahey) remains out through illness.
“Yann (Songo’o) is out injured, and has a dislocated big toe, which needs putting back in.
“A month out is the early prognosis there so we’ll lose him for a few weeks in an area where we’re already light, with Regan (Slater – foot) and Levi (Sutton – hand) out, so there will be an opportunity for someone there to come in.
“Jamie Proctor is unavailable for this competition, which we knew before, so there will definitely be changes to the squad.
“Kgosi Ntlhe (groin) had his first day back training properly on Monday but isn’t ready to be back involved in the matchday squad just yet.
“Some of the lads who have been back training after injury recently might be involved in the squad, but realistically we’ll have some younger players involved, though most of them will probably be on the bench rather than starting. It will be a strong team and one that could well take to the field on Saturday (at Leyton Orient).
“It’s an opportunity for one or two, and we’re on the back of a defeat so we want a response to that. The scoreline (at Crawley) wasn’t a fair reflection of the game but ultimately we still lost, so it’s a chance now to test ourselves against a very big League One club with good players.”
Assuming Jordan Clarke is fit to make the squad, I can see him going to right back and Hurst putting Perch alongside Matty Lund in midfield.
If the above is not a possibility, then someone from the under 23s will have to start in midfield, and hopefully we can have at least one of the injured CM’s back for the weekend.
Either way, the next month is going to be a real stretch in central midfield, especially considering Lund’s recent history too.
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