Town have confirmed that keeper Richard Wright will be out of action for four months with the knee injury he sustained at Cardiff on Sunday, as first revealed by TWTD earlier this afternoon. Wright collided with Bluebirds striker Michael Chopra during the first half and was replaced by Arran Lee-Barrett.
Physio Matt Byard told the club site: "Richard has a partial tear to his cruciate ligament.
"We will manage his recovery conservatively and at this stage we are very hopeful that he will not require surgery.
"You can never be exact in a recovery time but with this type of injury, we expect Richard to be out for around four months."
Wright’s injury, coupled with loanee Asmir Begovic’s return to Portsmouth last week, leaves the Blues short in the goalkeeping department. Aside from 25-year-old Lee-Barrett, 18-year-old Irish stopper Ian McLoughlin, who signed an 18-month professional deal a year ago, and 17-year-old loanee from Tottenham Mirko Ranieri are the only keepers in the squad.
Town are likely to ask the Football League for special dispensation to take another keeper on loan, although clubs have not always been successful with these requests in the past.
New keeper Brian Murphy formally joins the Blues from Bohemians on a Bosman when the transfer window opens in January. The Irishman looks likely to have the chance to establish himself as the club's number keeper during Wright's extended spell on the sidelines.
Wright rejoined the Blues from West Ham in the summer of 2008 with his contract up next June.