Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has admitted that he could be forced into the transfer market to sign a centre-back before Monday's deadline.
Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron are both currently on the sidelines for the Potters, while Marc Muniesa has been struggling in recent weeks.
Marc Wilson became the latest Potters defender to be struck down by injury during Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, and Hughes has conceded that he might be forced to look at "a short-term thing" before the deadline passes.
"Marc looks like he's got a bad knee injury. He's got medial ligament damage, the physio thinks, so he's going to be out for a period of 10 to 12 weeks, unfortunately," Hughes told reporters.
"The injury might force our hand [in the transfer market] because we are bit threadbare with Ryan Shawcross injured, Geoff Cameron unavailable and Marc Muniesa only just coming back into the team. So we might have to do a short-term thing."
Stoke return to Premier League action away to Manchester United on Tuesday night.
Matt Law
