Weekend Briefing: Injury crisis piles more pressure on beleaguered Boro boss

Gaffer Tracker

Russell Martin - MK Dons

MK Dons are in the thick of the Sky Bet League One relegation scrap and appear to have taken a major gamble in replacing experienced manager Paul Tisdale with rookie boss Russell Martin.

Tisdale's stock was high after leading the Dons to promotion from the fourth tier last season but he leaves the club fourth from bottom after a run of eight defeats and a draw in their last nine league games.

Maybe a change was necessary but it feels like a high-risk move to appoint Martin, a 33-year-old right-back, who is one of the players responsible for the Dons' plight.

It is sink-or-swim time for Martin, who has all the relevant coaching qualifications and, like any manager, will need some luck.

The short-term outlook is at least a little brighter following some positive news on the injury front.

The Dons have been struggling for goals but injured strikers Rhys Healey and Sam Nombe started running on the treadmill this week and centre-forward Joe Mason (hamstring) is back in full training.

Injury Briefing

Lewandowski playing through the pain

Bayern Munich talisman Robert Lewandowski maintained his extraordinary sequence of scoring in every game he has started this season by netting the opener in Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League victory at home to Olympiakos but the prolific Pole is carrying a groin injury and is expected to go under the knife at some stage in the campaign.

News of Lewandowski's injury was broken earlier this week by Bayern's interim manager Hansi Flick although the timing of the operation is yet to be decided.

Bayern are through to the Champions League knockout stages but continue to be heavily reliant on Lewandowski in domestic games as they plot a recovery from fourth place in the Bundesliga.

Boro battling injury crisis

Not much is going right for Middlesbrough, who have won just two of their 15 Sky Bet Championship fixtures and could be without as many as nine players, including two goalkeepers, for Saturday's trip to QPR.

Second-choice keeper Aynsley Pears, who has been deputising for Darren Randolph (thigh), has suffered a finger injury and is rated 50-50 to face QPR.

Marcus Browne (hamstring) and Ben Liddle (illness) failed to finish Monday's Under-23s clash against Manchester United and have joined Randolph, Rudy Gestede (hamstring), Ryan Shotton, George Friend (both thigh) and Ashley Fletcher (calf) on the absentee list.

Jonathan Woodgate's options are further reduced by a three-match ban for George Saville, who was sent off during last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Derby.

Preston forced into midfield rejig

Preston spent one night at the top of the Championship table after winning 1-0 at Charlton last Sunday but manager Alex Neil has a few problems to address this week with holding midfielder Ben Pearson serving a one-match ban and playmaker Daniel Johnson struggling with a foot injury.

Losing both players would be a major blow, forcing Neil to get creative with his team selection for the home fixture against Huddersfield.

Pearson and Johnson have started Preston's last 14 games and the last time they both missed out was on the opening weekend of the season when North End lost 1-0 at Millwall.

Swindon silent on key loanees

Sky Bet League Two highflyers Swindon have had great success in the loan market this season but they may not have all their loanees available for the FA Cup first-round tie at divisional rivals Cheltenham.

Swindon's top league scorers this season are Eoin Doyle (14 goals) and Jerry Yates (seven), who are on loan from Bradford and Rotherham.

Two more key players are midfielder Anthony Grant (on loan from Shrewsbury) and Norwich loanee winger Diallang Jaiyesimi, who has recently broken into the side.

Mystery surrounds the quartet's involvement this weekend after manager Richie Wellens said that 'the majority' of his loan signings had permission to play.

Even if just one of them is ruled out it would put added pressure on a Swindon squad weakened by the absences of first-choice wingers Lloyd Isgrove (knee) and Keshi Anderson (hamstring).

Forss not with Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon's chances of an FA Cup first-round win at home to Doncaster have been significantly reduced after they confirmed that on-loan Brentford striker Marcus Forss has not been given permission to play.

Forss has netted seven goals for the Wombles this season and his absence heaps pressure on Joe Pigott, who has bagged just one goal in 15 league appearances.

Wimbledon are also without on-loan Brighton midfielder Max Sanders, who suffered a muscle strain in training last week.

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport