Midfielder Tommy Miller looks increasingly likely to miss Sunday's trip to Sunderland due to the elbow injury he sustained in the 1-0 win against Leeds last Saturday.
Boss Joe Royle says the former Hartlepool man is desperate not to miss the game: "There is a lot of swelling and Tommy is still in a fair amount of discomfort.
"Naturally he wants to play. In fact, being a North-East lad, he is desperate to play at the Stadium of Light.
"But even though he is improving slightly each day he still has a fair bit to do and the odds are against him making it."
If he doesn't make it then Dean Bowditch could come in as a third striker with the Blues switching to 4-3-3. Otherwise Matt Richards may take over in a four-man midfield.