DAVID Flitcroft has played down the prospect of Swindon Town ending stricken full-back Chris Hussey's loan spell at the County Ground with the loan player's ongoing injury problems continuing to baffle the club's medical staff.

Hussey, signed on a year-long loan from Sheffield United in the summer, impressed in 11 games for Town before suffering an injury in the groin area in the 2-0 win at Forest Green Rovers in late September.

The intervening two months have proved a frustrating spell for both player and club, with Hussey seemingly close to a return at one stage last month before suffering a relapse.

It leaves Town with the problem of a loan player they are unable to utilise, but Flitcroft says the situation is not as simple as merely cancelling the temporary deal and packing the 28-year-old back to Yorkshire.

"It's not as easy as that because the commitment is for 12 months,'' said the County Ground chief at today's pre-match press call ahead of Saturday's League Two trip to Crewe Alexandra.

"When we committed to the loan deal, you're committing to that length of time so it's not a case of just breaking it off.

"I think both clubs have got to try and find a solution to get Chris fit and back playing. When a player is playing it doesn't become an issue at all.

"Yes, there is a financial demand and we're paying a contribution to his wage, but sometimes you are stuck in that. That's not just Swindon but every club and every loan signing you potentially might get.

"If they get injured while they are on loan with you, the two clubs have to try and find a solution to get him fit. That's what we're both trying to do.

"Obviously we'd like him fit and we'd like it quicker, but sometimes you are locked into a deal that you can't get out of.''

The extent of Hussey's injury has continued to confound medical staff at both Town and the Blades, Flitcroft admitting: "We still can't get to the bottom of Chris' (injury), so we're still working closely with Sheffield United on that and the specialist to try and get a solution to it.

"It's in a real difficult area that you have not just with Chris but with many players. Is it a groin, is it a hernia, is it a pubic strain? It's all connected so it's a real difficult one to assess.''

Flitcroft also had mixed injury news on his strikers ahead of the Gresty Road trip with Harry Smith poised to miss out but Luke Norris and Keshi Anderson tentatively pencilled in.

Norris, who has scored nine goals in 19 appearances in all competitions this season, limped off in the second half of Town’s 1-0 defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers in the Checkatrade Trophy second round on December 5, but was hoping to come through training this afternoon.

On-loan Crystal Palace man Anderson meanwhile has also suffered with a groin problem, although his manager was hopeful about his availability.

Goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook also came through training earlier this week and is expected to be available, while Town are continuing to monitor full-back Ben Purkiss, who suffered a neck injury in last Friday's defeat to Colchester.

"We probably won't have Harry Smith. He's still struggling with his knee, so Harry is somebody we won't have,'' added Flitcroft.

"Reice Charles-Cook is training today, so when he comes through that - and I'm sure he'll come through that - he will be available.

"Nozza has trained Tuesday, he had a down day yesterday with the medical staff and then hopefully today he comes through training, so we'll have Luke Norris available, which is a big one.

"Purks, with his neck has not trained this week as yet. He's got an assessment this morning and we'll see how he comes through.

"Keshi Anderson has been struggling for a couple weeks, again with this pubic strain. We've managed it, given him some management programmes and protocols and again we're hopeful we'll have him for Saturday.''