FRENCHMAN Toumani Diagouraga will miss Saturday’s FA Cup contest against York City at the Energy Check County Ground after picking a thigh strain on Tuesday during Swindon Town’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton.

Diagouraga, 31, limped off the pitch 40 minutes into the game – which Town won 3-0 – and has been hit by news that he could be out for at least a month.

Initial scans have indicated the holding midfielder has suffered from a tear worse than Grade One.

News of Diagouraga’s injury could open the door for both Martin Smith and Jak McCourt to pitch for a regular first-team spot should boss Phil Brown opt to maintain the holding role in Paris-born midfielder’s absence.

Brown said: “All loan players are available to me this weekend, and in terms of injuries, the only new injury we’ve got is Toumani (Diagouraga).

“He broke down with a thigh strain in the game behind closed doors on Tuesday.

“That game was a good opportunity for some of our first-team members to get a run out.

“Luke McCormick, Ellis Iandolo, Dion Conroy, Joe Romanski, Keshi Anderson, Elijah Adebayo, Scott Twine – quite a few of the first-team squad featured.

“Unfortunately, Toumani pulled up with his thigh strain with 40 minutes on the clock. He won’t be available for this weekend.”

Also missing this weekend will be leading goalscorer Michael Doughty and experienced frontman Marc Richards.

Doughty is currently receiving treatment from his own personal doctor after injections used prior to Town’s League Two contest with Notts County set the 25-year-old back further in his road to recovery from a deep cut to his foot.

Stitches were required when Doughty limped off the field during Town’s tie against Cambridge United last month.

Since then, an infection has spread in his right foot.

Richards, meanwhile, has been described as a 50-50 option by Brown, who appears in favour of resting the former Northampton Town striker after he picked up a thigh strain during the warm-up ahead of last weekend’s trip to Colchester United.

“Michael Doughty is still under a stringent regime elsewhere with his own doctor,” said Brown.

“He’s still going through antibiotics because an infection has spread through his foot, which is very unfortunate.

“The cut is in a horrible place. He played with it for 60 minutes against Notts County.

“Unfortunately, the injections that he’s had to get him through that game have turned his wound in the wrong direction.

“Consequently, he will not be available this weekend.

“Marc Richards suffered a thigh strain in the warm-up last week. He’s 50-50 for Saturday.

“I’ll probably be cautious with Marc so he has more time to recover from what was a Grade One which occurred 10 minutes before kick-off against Colchester.

“Marc should be available for next week, but not this fixture.”

However, there is more positive news for captain Olly Lancashire.

Scans have revealed the central defender is clear to feature against York despite his substitution against Colchester last weekend after he clashed heads when attempting to clear a corner.

Brown added: “There is good news for Olly Lancashire after we received his scan results.

“He’s 100 per cent available for selection this weekend.”

York, meanwhile, were dealt a blow earlier this week when it was confirmed midfielder – and former club captain – Simon Heslop has been ruled out for eight weeks with a knee injury which required surgery.