THE good news of Baichung Bhutia's work permit success was just the fillip Shakers chief Neil Warnock needed after what has been a disastrous week for injuries.

No sooner had the Bury boss learned that Lutel James had broken his leg in last Saturday's clash at Oldham Athletic than he received another hammer blow.

Dominant central defender Sam Collins will be missing for at least eight weeks after sustaining medial ligament damage during training on Monday morning.

And if that wasn't bad enough - in the same session - Paul Reid also took a painful blow to the knee that left him on crutches for a couple of days.

Reid's injury, thankfully, is just bad bruising and he may even be okay for tomorrow's visit of Wycombe Wanderers.

However, the loss of Collins is a major problem for Warnock who has had to bring long term injury victim Andy Woodward into the squad despite the fact he hasn't had a game in the reserves.

"Monday was unbelievable and it had to be the thirteenth of the month," said Warnock. "But whoever turns out tomorrow we'll need the fans to really get behind them. I may even have to throw Andy Woodward in because there's no way he'd let us down.

"Wycombe will be very difficult to break down and whoever plays our plan will be to attack them as much as we can."

It's not all bad news though as striker Paul Barnes is in line for a recall after grabbing a goal in the reserves 3-1 victory over Chester at the Deva Stadium on Wednesday.

Tomorrow's opponents are a formidable prospect away from home with only one defeat away from Adams Park since March 23.

It was a sequence of five victories in their final seven away games - including a vital one at Manchester City - that saved the Chairboys from relegation into Division Three last season.

And this term they have been equally adept on their travels with a win at Scunthorpe on the opening day followed by draws at Gillingham and Oxford, a 4-2 Worthington Cup first round triumph over Wolves at Molineux and in the second round this week they earned a fine draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Andy Preece spent two days in hospital this week having tests on a stomach problem that is stopping him taking the anti-inflammatory drugs that would ease his knee problem.

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