ACCRINGTON Stanley boss Paul Cook has confirmed that Bryan Hughes and captain Dean Winnard will both miss Saturday’s home game against Port Vale.

Hughes has been ruled out for three to four weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in the weekend defeat at Swindon, while Winnard has been suffering from an ankle problem.

That will leave the Reds with limited options for the Vale game, with Ian Craney and Sean Hessey already injured.

Cook has already brought in three loan players since his arrival and accepts he will have to work with the squad he already has at his disposal.

Stanley currently have six domestic loans – not including Padraig Amond, on a temporary deal from Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira – and can only name five in their matchday squad.

“Bryan will be out for three to four weeks and Dean has had a couple of problems with his ankles,” Cook said.

“We’ve got six lads on loan at the moment and if we bring more in some of those won’t be able to be able to involved, so we’ll just work hard with the players we’ve got.

“We won’t make excuses about injuries, we’re staying positive and working hard.”