Doncaster Rovers: Boss Ferguson left sweating on Luke McCullough's injury diagnosis

Northern Ireland international McCullough twisted awkwardly just 16 minutes into the game and limped off - becoming the eighth senior player to be sidelined.

And boss Ferguson is not confident the versatile midfielder will be fit for the start of the season.

“We’re having a tough time at the minute with injuries,” Ferguson told The Star. “It’s getting a bit testing now.

“Luke caught his studs in the ground and we don’t know how that it. It doesn’t look good. It’s another body walking about on crutches.

“He’s another one that is going to be probably struggling for the start of the season.

“It could be his knee or his hamstring. It’s that sort of area, the back of the knee.

“It’s eased up a bit and it’s not too badly swollen which is a good sign.

“But with things like that, my experience tells me he might be out a while.

“Luke is a pivotal player for us and it’s probably an injury I really didn’t want because of what he brings to the team.

“But we’ll get him assessed and cope accordingly.”

Ferguson has received some positive news on the injury front with Harry Middleton’s knee issue not as severe as first feared.

Middleton now has a chance of being fit for the start of the season, which begins in ten days at Accrington Stanley.

Paul Keegan will return to training on Thursday while Joe Wright is likely to recover in time to face Coventry City in a friendly on Friday night.