Up to 12 players could miss Saturday's Championship meeting between Wolves and Cardiff City at Molineux, with both camps carrying injury, suspension and selection concerns. Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy has nevertheless received a significant fitness boost with Rubin Colwill returning to contention.
Barry-Murphy's side travel to the Midlands aiming for their first away league victory of the season, having taken 10 points from their last five Championship matches. A 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough was followed by a win over Birmingham City last weekend, and Cardiff now look to continue their climb up the table.
Defensive issues remain the main headache, with Gabriel Osho suspended and both Dylan Lawlor and Calum Chambers sidelined. Colwill, however, is back in training after a lengthy ankle injury lay-off.
Cardiff's defensive absentees
Gabriel Osho is suspended after being sent off during the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough. Cardiff appealed the decision, but the appeal was rejected, leaving Barry-Murphy without another central defensive option.
"We appealed it because we felt it was a good case, but it was dismissed," the Cardiff boss said last week.
Dylan Lawlor will not return until after the November international break after suffering a hamstring injury against Watford. The young Wales international had only recently returned from a lengthy absence with a knee problem before his latest setback.
"Dylan's hamstring injury means he won't be back until after the international break. That's his timescale for now," Barry-Murphy said.
Club captain Calum Chambers remains out with a knee issue, with swelling and fluid in the knee, on which he has previously undergone surgery, complicating his recovery. Barry-Murphy confirmed on Thursday that Chambers is back running, but a return to competitive action remains some way off.
Fitness doubts for Cardiff and Wolves
Krystian Bielik faces a late fitness check after pulling out of the Birmingham City victory minutes before kick-off with a groin problem suffered in the warm-up. Barry-Murphy confirmed the issue was relatively minor, but Bielik's availability depends on his response in training.
Callum Robinson's involvement is uncertain after he was left out of the last two matchday squads. The 31-year-old was initially omitted for the Middlesbrough game after failing to meet internal standards set by Barry-Murphy, and was left out again for the Birmingham City victory.
Asked whether Robinson would return against Wolves, Barry-Murphy offered no guarantees: "Every squad is the same for us. We train today, train tomorrow and then we pick the squad for Saturday's game." Pressed on Robinson's long-term future, he added: "Game by game for us, always. All that stuff about speculation and what's going to happen in the future is irrelevant to me."
For Wolves, Raul Jimenez and Ghislain Konan are both ruled out with knee injuries. Nasser Djiga, who missed the previous match with a groin problem, could return, as could Fer Lopez, who was an unused substitute last time out after a calf issue. Rodrigo Gomes, Bertrand Traore and Boubacar Traore are all doubtful after returning to training this week, though Saturday's match may come too soon for them.
Wolves are expected to provide a further update on their injury concerns at their pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
