Jermaine Johnson is definitely OUT of City's West Yorkshire derby plans.
Further checks have confirmed that the winger tore his hamstring in the Tranmere game - an injury that is likely to sideline him for at least a fortnight.
"Unless there is an utter miracle he's not going to be fit for the derby," admitted City physio Steve Redmond. "But we're hoping it's a bit similar to the one Alan Rogers did which kept him out a couple of weeks, so at best there's a chance of him playing in the North-ampton game.
"If not, we have two games the following week and he should be all right for then. Hopefully it's only going be a fortnight but that's a minimum estimate."
Johnson, pictu-red, has been in scintillating form in recent matches and his absence will be a blow to Colin Todd's preparations for this weekend's Valley Parade showdown with Huddersfield.
The Jamaican produced one end-to-end burst against Tranmere before pulling up lame during another run.
Redmond added: "Jermaine was initially keen to go back on and if you turn an ankle or take a bump or knock you can try to run it off. But it didn't appear to be cramp or anything like that and obviously there would have been a great chance of making it worse if he had given it another go."
Johnson, signed in the summer from Jamaican club Tivoli Gardens, has played in all 13 of City's matches so far this season and scored twice.
His injury will mean a first start since May for youngster Joe Colbeck, who has come off the bench for the last eight games.
As a precaution, Colbeck has been taken out of the reserve side to face West Brom at home tonight (7pm). Eddie Johnson is expected to play 45 minutes and Matt Clarke is also in the team.
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