Swindon Town will be struggling for defenders in their next two games, as Billy Kirkman has suffered a groin injury that will keep him out for a month.
As Stephan Negru heads off on international duty with Moldova, Ian Holloway knew that he would be struggling for defensive options as Town have a pair of games against Plymouth Argyle and Grimsby Town.
That problem has become bigger, as ahead of the trip to Milton Keynes Dons in the FA Cup, Kirkman suffered a groin injury.
The 22-year-old had become a regular for Swindon and was an important option as a left-side centre-back since Swindon moved to a back three, especially since Sam Inwood returned to Bolton Wanderers to do his rehabilitation from a Grade Two hamstring tear.
That left Town short enough at the back on Saturday, with Dan Butler covering in the back three, and only Kaelan Majekodunmi on the bench, as James Debayo also missed out with a knock.
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With Negru heading off on international duty this week, Swindon will have precious few defenders to pick from.
Holloway admitted that it would have been helpful to have more internationals, so that Town could have postponed the match whilst they are so short in defence.
He said: “I wish we had two more because we could call it off then. Another bloke who might be injured [Inwood] could have helped with that.
“And I've got Majekodunmi; if he gets one more booking, he might be out when Steph's out. So it's one of them in your brain.
“I have never had a time like it, but I'm getting used to it. ‘Oh my God, you're fit. Nice to see you. Let's go training.’ There are a few of them like that, but we have a joke about it now.”
Holloway said after the defeat to MK Dons that he intended to bring the same group of players from that match with him to Plymouth on Tuesday to help them gain familiarity with each other.
That will likely include a makeshift back line, with so many players missing, with James Ball, Majekodunmi, and Butler the only natural options in that position.
Ryan Tafazolli remains around two weeks from returning to contention, so he will not be back in time to make up for the lack of Negru.
Whether this forces Holloway to have a rethink and field a back four, or call in an academy player, in an attempt to deal with the lack of availability is currently unknown.
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