SWINDON Town manager David Flitcroft is dealing with an injury crisis ahead of today’s home clash with Newport County (3pm).

The County Ground chief was forced to recall youngsters James Brophy and Tom Smith from their respective loan spells at Leyton Orient and Bath City.

Not only are the club struggling with the number of injuries accumulated in recent weeks, they have also been dealt a major blow with midfielder Timi Elsnik is set to miss at least eight weeks, after initially being quoted a four-week lay-off.

The Derby County loanee is joined on the injury list by top scorer Luke Norris who is struggling with an ankle injury, midfielder Amine Linganzi and long-term absentees Donal McDermott and Chris Hussey.

However, the club do have one piece of good news as forward Paul Mullin appears to have recovered from a groin injury to play at the Energy Check County Ground this afternoon.

“Timi is longer (than we thought). We got him to Derby for it to be assessed straight away, it is going to be at least eight weeks, potentially more,” said Flitcroft.

“It was the top of his hamstring and it has gone into his tendon, he had some blood pumped into it to try and get it going.

“It’s a galling one, because when you get an academy player and he starts to show that Championship quality, he really started to make an impact in the final third.”

Flitcroft also revealed that fellow loan player Hussey is no closer to making a return, after the left-back’s return was stalled in training at the end of last week.

Norris, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury, is ruled out with an ankle problem after he pulled out of the warm-up alongside goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

“We just aren’t getting any nearer with Chris (Hussey).He broke down last week and I thought that I would have had him for Saturday’s game,” added Flitcroft, who admits the club are still trying to find the root of Vigouroux’s injury.

“We are going to have to speak to Sheffield United to see if we can get to the bottom of the injury, because at the moment, we can’t.

“Everything was on course, but it has thrown the medical staff so we might have to look for some support there and see what we can do.

“I think Harry (Smith) is going to have to do three games in a week. We probably aren’t going to have Luke for the weekend.

“He rocked his ankle in the warm-up. If Luke Norris could get out there then he would, that is what I do know.

“Lawrence was warming up and then just walked off the pitch and said ‘I’m injured’ so we tried to get to the bottom of it and find something. There’s nothing in there, the search continues on that one. 

 “He won’t be in contention at the weekend because he is injured. It’s not serious at all so we will have to make sure we get to the bottom of it.”