GRAEME SOUNESS is facing up to a midfield injury crisis after admitting Tugay has virtually no chance of featuring in tomorrow's Premiership showdown with Manchester United.

The Blackburn boss is already without England Under 21 skipper David Dunn, ruled out for at least six weeks after picking up an injury in the opening match of the season at Derby last weekend.

Turkish star Tugay, a £1.3m million summer signing from Rangers, was seen as the natural replacement for Dunn after he missed the defeat at Pride Park due to a suspension carried over from last season.

But he had a recurrence of a thigh injury in training yesterday at Brockhall and now looks a non-starter.

"He was fine right up until the last minute of training yesterday but then he started to feel the top of his thigh which is real nuisance for us because he would have come in as a straight replacement for Dunny," said Souness.

"It's a niggle but one that's gone on too long and we're a bit disappointed with that.

"So it's a blow to lose both of them because we haven't got the biggest squad in the world and a lot of our season will depend on keeping our key men fit."

Alan Mahon has been drafted in as cover and Souness now faces a straight choice between him and Craig Hignett in terms of who to partner Garry Flitcroft.