MARK Hughes is a doubt for tomorrow’s derby with Bolton Wanderers.

The experienced centre half was a rare absentee for Tuesday night’s game at Oxford United with a calf injury, leading to manager John Coleman fielding what he believes to be the youngest defensive unit in League One.

“We probably had the youngest back five that's ever played League One the other day, with Joe Bursik, Callum (Johnson), Ross (Sykes), Jerome (Opoku) and Aji (Alese). I think the average age was probably about 20,” said the Stanley boss.

“But they're good players and they're learning and hopefully we'll be stronger for the weekend. We've got to get back on a run of winning games.”

Hughes was due to have a scan this week on the problem that ruled him out of the defeat at the Kassam Stadium.

And Coleman was unsure whether he would be available this weekend.

“We’ll have to monitor him,” said the Stanley boss, who was also hoping Aji Alese would respond well to treatment to the back injury he suffered at Oxford.

"Aji came off with a twinge in his back but I think it's just muscular,” he added.