SEAN O'Hanlon is a major doubt for tomorrow's encounter with the Milton Keynes Dons, leaving manager Andy King with a thoroughly decimated back line.

The former Everton man will be given a very late fitness test after picking up a dead leg during Wednesday night's defeat by Luton Town and everything possible is being crossed in the hope that he makes it.

Matt Heywood is out with a knee injury, Jerel Ifil is still struggling with a thigh problem and Adi Viveash is enjoying a month's loan with Kidderminster Harriers.

It leaves just Alan Reeves as the only senior fit and healthy centre-half.

Town physio Dick Mackey said: "Sean suffered a dead leg and was very sore when he came in for treatment yesterday.

"I'm optimistic that the lad does have a chance of making it but it will be a very last minute decision.

"It's too early to say at this stage.

"Lloyd Opara and Andy Nicholas came in and worked hard yesterday and we'll see how Jerel Ifil gets on trying to kick a ball in training today.

"I'd say he has an outside chance, nothing more than that, at this stage.

"Sammy Igoe is still feeling his hamstring but hopefully a day's rest will help him."

While Mackey has the job of healing bodies, assistant boss Mike Walsh is focused on trying to lift spirits ahead of tomorrow's match.

He said: "Nobody is pressing any panic buttons at the club.

"We haven't had the start we were all hoping for but there's a long way to go yet.

"The injury situation is well known and Sean O'Hanlon's dead leg is another problem we could do without."

Walsh accepts that Town need to improve their act when it comes to defending set pieces but such is the queue outside the physio's room that it isn't quite that simple.

He said: "Andy and I were talking yesterday and joked that we would sort it out if only we could get enough fit players on the training pitch to do it.

"Seriously, we're well aware of where we've fallen down so far."

Walsh travelled to Vale Park on Tuesday night to watch tomorrow's opponents.

He knows they will be a tough nut to crack.

He said: "Andy and I saw them lose 3-2 at Vale.

"They are a team with a lot of youthful enthusiasm. They have pace up front and in wide areas and looked dangerous on the counter attack."

While the players enjoyed a rest day yesterday King sent his phone bill soaring even higher in a bid to bring in a fresh face, a task which is proving far from simple.

Whether he succeeds in time for the Dons clash remains to be seen.