JOHN Brayford has been sidelined by a second hamstring injury picked up in the first 15 minutes at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The defender had only just got back onto the pitch from a similar injury but now faces another lay off.
Lucas Akins and Ben Turner also both came off with hamstring and knee injuries respectively at the City Ground with the defender the most likely to be back to face Ipswich on Saturday at the Pirelli Stadium. Will Miller (hamstring) and Joe Mason (back) will take longer to recover.
Nigel Clough said: “Joe has been struggling with his back. He did it training when it absolutely stiffened up and he could barely move and he will be a doubt again for Saturday.
“John Brayford will be out. It’s the same leg hamstring wise as he had before but a different area. It’s not a case of him coming back too soon but unfortunately a different injury and we have no time line on it at the moment. It’s just bad luck.
“He will be miserable around the place as all he wants to do is get out and play.
“Lucas Akins will also be a doubt. Will Miller is also still out.
“Ben Turner got a whack on his knee on Saturday and having been booked as well we didn’t want him to get sent off so we brought him off. He hasn’t trained fully this week but we hope he will be OK for Saturday. He’s one of those characters who will want to be out there.”