A STRIKING blow has hit Leeds United as they bid to extend an impressive home record in the Sky Bet Championship.

Front-man Dexter Blackstock, who is on loan from Nottingham Forest, is out of the visit of Wigan Athletic to Elland Road tonight with the knee injury that also forced him out of last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

Said Leeds boss Brian McDermott: “He is going to see a specialist and we’ll see where he goes from there.

“He has gone back to Forest to see their guy. He’ll be having a scan and then we will see how he is. I can’t put a timescale on it.”

The loss of Blackstock is a setback, but Leeds will still be confident of an instant return to winning ways by increasing their run of home success to five consecutive conquests.

McDermott was hopeful of the right response from his charges after the narrow loss at Ewood Park.

He added: “I’m gutted, we are all gutted that we lost the game but we will pick ourselves up very quickly. We will bounce back.”

The mystery factor, which could throw a spanner into the home works, is how Wigan’s players will react to this week’s sacking of manager Owen Coyle after the Latics’ 3-1 defeat at home to Derby County.

The appointment of Coyle, allied to significant summer investment, was designed to restore the current FA Cup holders to the Premier League at the first attempt. But Wigan’s form this term has been inconsistent, though they have had to cope with the demands of the Europa Cup.