Weekend injury briefing: team news from around the English leagues

1 Luton Town problems are piling up

Newly-promoted Luton are still waiting for their first victory of the Sky Bet Championship season and they are stretched for Saturday's trip to Barnsley after right-back Martin Cranie (knee ligaments) was added to their mounting injury list.

Cranie was forced off during Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday, making life even tougher for the Bedfordshire side, who were without Brendan Galloway (knee), Dan Potts (groin) and Callum McManaman (hamstring).

Luton manager Graeme Jones hopes for swift returns for Potts and McManaman but will have to make do without Cranie, who faces several weeks on the sidelines.

2 Bradley Dack on track to continue for Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn fans' joy at Tuesday's hard-fought 1-0 victory in Hull was dampened by the sight of star midfielder Bradley Dack limping off.

Dack was on the wrong end of a heavy challenge from Hull defender Robbie McKenzie and had intensive treatment before having to withdraw from the fray.

However, Rovers manager Tony Mowbray was quick to allay the fears of supporters by playing down the extent of Dack's injury.

He said: "Bradley is always disappointed when he comes off but he needs to realise we have another game in four days."

"We have a squad and I have to give them opportunities. Bradley will be fine, he'll brush it off and be ready to go again Saturday I'm sure.”

3 Accrington Stanley look stretched up front

Accrington have taken just one point from three games and they head to Fleetwood with fewer attacking options after Swansea loanee Courtney Baker-Richardson suffered a leg muscle strain during Tuesday's 3-2 loss at home to Shrewsbury.

Baker-Richardson's place is likely to go to Dion Charles, who came off the bench and scored a stunning goal against the Shrews.

Charles will likely partner Colby Bishop, who has three goals in four appearances this season, but there might not be many options for Stanley, who have been without key striker Billy Kee (personal reasons) since the start of the campaign.

4 Stevenage are short-handed at Mansfield

The season is less than three weeks old but Stevenage are already feeling the strain with seven senior squad players suffering from injuries.

Defenders Ben Nugent, Scott Cuthbert, and Terence Vancooten, midfielders Paul Digby, Dean Parrett and Charlie Carter and winger Emmanuel Sonupe were all sidelined as the Hertfordshire side slipped to a 1-0 loss at home to Bradford on Tuesday, leaving them third from bottom in Sky Bet League Two.

There was some good news for Boro boss Dino Maamria with attacking midfielder Ben Kennedy returning from a layoff but the Tunisian gaffer remains short of options for Saturday's tough trip to Mansfield.

5 Scunthorpe are suffering

There were high expectations of Scunthorpe this season but they have had a miserable start, taking one point from 12, and head to Macclesfield with a depleted squad.

Experienced defender James Perch starts a three-game ban after receiving a straight red card during the first half of Scunny's 3-2 loss at Cambridge on Tuesday.

And Scunthorpe have plenty of injuries to contend with after Ryan Colclough (groin), Clayton Lewis (thigh), Andy Dales (hamstring), Levi Sutton (knee) and Lewis Butroid (ankle) missed out in midweek.

Beleaguered boss Paul Hurst did have one piece of welcome news on Tuesday with right-back Jordan Clarke (quad) making his return as a second-half substitute.

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