Town boss Kieran McKenna says Marcus Harness’s knee injury “doesn’t look great on first viewing” and was the big disappointment of the evening, while Freddie Ladapo picked up a problem warming up, however, there is better news regarding Leif Davis, Conor Chaplin and Janoi Donacien.

Harness was helped off in the 24th minute of the Blues’ 2-0 Papa Johns Trophy defeat to his former club Portsmouth, adding to an already lengthy injury list.

“I think that’s the negative of the night, there’s no doubt about that,” McKenna said. “To be honest, with the situation at the moment, going through would have been a game we could do without in between the Wycombe and Peterborough games, so having that week as a clear week is probably beneficial for us, being completely truthful about it at the moment.

“And the big disappointment of the night is Marcus’s injury. It doesn’t look great on first viewing and it will be a scan tomorrow to see the severity of the damage.”

Davis limped off at Exeter on Saturday with a hamstring problem, while Chaplin and Donacien also had minor problems from the trip to St James Park but are OK.

“Conor, Leif and JD are fine,” McKenna continued. “They had little niggles from the weekend that we didn’t want to risk with where we’re at at the moment, so they’re fine and should be fine for Sunday’s game.”

Regarding Ladapo, he added: “Freddie felt his calf as he was warming up, so it was one that we didn’t want to risk in the game.

“I haven’t thought too much about Sunday night. Numbers aren’t great. We have Kyle [Edwards] and Gassan [Ahadme] back, which will be a big boost.

“We’ll have more bodies back available for Sunday and we’ll see how the boys recover over the next few days.

“He was on the bench, it was during the game as he was warming up, he didn’t feel quite right in his calf, so at that point we, of course, sent him and said it wasn’t the time to take any risks.

“So he went in and that ends up with Cameron Burgess playing up front for the second time in two home games, which is obviously not the plan and not how we foresee the squad, but that’s the situation at the moment and he almost helped us force a goal at the end.”

Ladapo's problem makes Ahadme's return from injury all the more timely ahead of Sunday's FA Cup tie against Buxton, the former Burton man having missed out this evening as he was cup-tied, while Kyle Edwards was suspended following his red card at Cambridge.

“Gassan and Kyle, and JD and Conor and Leif will be available as well,” McKenna added.

“We’ll have some back. Of course, the disappointment and the worst thing certainly about the night is Marcus and we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Mark added 22:36 - Nov 22 Awful to lose Harness to injury in this tinpot competition. I don't understand risking so many first team players really. Oh well, hopefully we never have to play in the EFL Trophy again. Portsmouth usually have a good run in this competition and don't get promoted. Plymouth through to the next round I see. Our exit is probably for the best.
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Orraman added 22:39 - Nov 22 The third paragraph in this report would indicate that there really was no great desire to win this game and now it's cost us a potential serious injury to Marcus Harness. It seems at the moment that as soon as one key player returns from injury another one takes his place. It seems at least Janoi, Leif and Conor should be fully fit for the resumption of league fixtures

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ringwoodblue added 22:42 - Nov 22 I really fear that all these injuries could derail our promotion push. We just have to keep picking up points somehow before Christmas and hopefully we'll have bodies back for the busy festive period.
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Monkey_Blue added 09:44 - Nov 23 The regulations mean we have to play a certain amount of first team players but whilst I hope Marcus is ok, at least it wasn't a central midfielder. I suspect we will be signing at least one midfielder in Jan. We will have Aluko back soon. It's really only Ball and Evans at the moment who are out for months rather than weeks.
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Bazza8564 added 11:34 - Nov 23 We are beginning to look thin in depth in the number 10 position with John-Jules Harness and Aluko out. Jackson can do a job right side better but we need Aluko back, Evans to strengthen that midfield and fairly quickly i would say. Can see us looking at the front end in January, sign Whittaker if those rumors are to be believed and one more if JJ is going to be months rather than weeks

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midastouch added 13:10 - Nov 23 Such a shame, he's been in great form. A big loss if he's out for an extended period. Big shoes for somebody else to try and fill.
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