Roy Hodgson has received yet more bad news on the injury front after Kagisho Dikgacoi was ruled out for six weeks.
Dikgacoi ruled out
Roy Hodgson has received yet more bad news on the injury front after Kagisho Dikgacoi was ruled out for six weeks.
The South African international has suffered ankle ligament damage and will not play again until late March.
Dikgacoi suffered the injury in the weekend clash at Bolton - a game he started - but he was forced off early in the second half.
"The game at Bolton was once again an expensive game for us, because we got a point, but have lost another player as Dikgacoi will be out for five to six weeks," confirmed Hodgson.
Dikgacoi joins a lengthy injury list which already includes Andrew Johnson, Paul Konchesky, Clint Dempsey and John Pantsil.
There was better news for Hodgson as both Bobby Zamora and Simon Davies are fit for their clash with Burnley on Tuesday.
"Bobby is fine and has recovered from his sickness, and will be back, as is Simon Davies," said Hodgson.
"We have barely got 18 players. There is no longer a selection problem at this club, (the problem) is 'have we got 18 fit players to fit the 11 spots and fill
the substitutes bench?'.
"Until we get back to a situation where the squad starts to resemble normal size with quality players back, it will be difficult for us.
"It is not easy to finish mid-table and we cannot ignore the fact that playing FA Cup matches and Europa League matches, when other sides are out, places a further burden on our resources, making the league match which follows much more difficult for us."