North End will leave no stone unturned in their hunt for defensive cover ahead of this weekend's home game against Ipswich.

Youl Mawene, Callum Davidson and Matty Hill will all miss Saturday's game after picking up one-match bans for five yellow cards.

And now skipper Chris Lucketti has been ruled out for a month with a groin injury.

That leaves boss Billy Davies with just Claude Davis in the centre of defence, and Tyrone Mears and Graham Alexander on the defensive wings.

Alexander is only just getting over a hamstring injury and has spent the week with the Scotland squad ahead of their friendly with Switzerland.

The injury to Lucketti should hopefully cool Sheffield United's interest in the club skipper who, until this season, was an everpresent in the side. Davies said: "Getting players in is very difficult, but we are looking at the emergency loan market to see if anyone is available.

"We are missing a lot of players but we will do what we always do, and overcome it the best way we can."