Andrew Davies has been ruled out of City’s plans for “three to four months” to leave Phil Parkinson desperately chasing a new centre half.

Luke Oliver is already sidelined until the summer and now it has been confirmed that his regular partner’s twisted knee will keep him out until well into the new year.

Parkinson missed training yesterday to watch a reserve game and assistant Steve Parkin admitted reinforcements will be required.

He said: “It’s a bitter blow to lose two players who have been very influential for us.

“We thought the swelling in his knee could be quite serious and sadly it’s proved to be the case.

“We’ve got two centre halves who are playing very well at the moment but one’s very young and the other has played a lot at right back this season.

“The manager’s keen to bring in one player, possibly two, and I think it’s important that we do that because there are a lot of league games coming up.”

The players were given a break at Oulton Hall Hotel in Rothwell yesterday to ease their aching limbs following the Wigan exertions. Nahki Wells is expected to be okay for the FA Cup trip to Northampton after suffering a tight hamstring.

Parkin remains a huge fan of the competition but feels it has been diluted by the decision to move last season’s final to kick off at tea time on the same day that the bottom two divisions were in action.

He said: “It’s been diluted. I was devastated last year when they played the cup final at 5.15pm – that’s ridiculous. I don’t agree with that in any shape or form. I don’t care if there’s fixture congestion or not, I’m sure there’s a weekend they can pick when everybody can watch it.

“Everyone who loves football loves the FA Cup and it still has a really fond place in my heart. It’s one we all grew up with.

“It’s a competition that everybody values and we’ll be taking the game seriously. We had a good little run in it last year and it would be good to do that again.”

City won 1-0 at Sixfields ten days ago but Parkin is wary of reading too much into that night.

“I don’t know if that works in our favour or not because they will know all about our players.

“But I’m sure (Northampton manager) Aidy Boothroyd will be forced to make a few changes like us so it could be a different game with new personnel.”

Next month’s dream clash with Arsenal has dominated the agenda but it will be strictly off limits at the training ground. Parkin does not see that being a problem.

“It will be easy with our group. We’ve got a lot of experience in there, with the likes of Nathan Doyle, Gary Jones and Ricky Ravenhill, and it’s not the first big cup tie that they will have played in.

“The important thing for us is we put it to one side and concentrate on tomorrow and then Chesterfield on Tuesday night. Ultimately, the league is the most important thing.

“There are a lot of games between now and then and the players can be told in no uncertain terms that just because they played against Wigan, there’s no guarantee they will be in the team for Arsenal.”