Icelandic defender Hermann Hreidarsson will miss at least five weeks of Town's play-off challenge and not three as initially expected. The defender clashed with Stoke's Belarus international Sergei Shtaniuk during the first half of Saturday's game.

Hreidarsson, only just back from suspension, underwent surgery on Sunday to repair damage the large gash just above his knee caused to his muscle.

The Town man, who was clearly in pain after the challenge, said he felt the incident was an accident and bears no malice towards the Stoke defender.

Hreidarsson had an eventful time while he was involved on Saturday, almost scoring early on and having a decent call for a penalty when Mark Crossley pulled him back inside the area. The Stoke keeper has since admitted that it should have been a spot-kick: "He had got past me so I tugged him back. It was enough to hold him back so I was able to catch up and clear.

"All credit to him, he didn't go down when I pulled him back, if he had I would have been off and it would have been a penalty, no doubt."

Joe Royle has other injury worries ahead of Tuesday's match at Crystal Palace (KO 8pm). Tommy Miller a big doubt with the hamstring injury which saw Martijn Reuser replace him on Saturday.

Better news is that Pablo Couñago returns from suspension and Darren Ambrose ought to be back from his knee injury.

Town boss Royle has admitted he was unhappy with Matt Richards' reaction to being substituted at the weekend. The youngster, a sub himself, walked straight down the tunnel after coming off. Royle says he has had "a word" with the 18-year-old and doesn't expect the same reaction in the future.

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