ATTACKING York City pair Wes Fletcher and Michael Coulson are both expected to be sidelined for a fortnight.

The duo limped out of the action during the first half of Saturday's 0-0 home draw against Portsmouth with Coulson suffering a calf injury and Fletcher picking up a hamstring problem.

Coulson is one of five players - the others being Marvin McCoy, Keith Lowe, Femi Ilesanmi and Russell Penn - to have started all 11 league matches this term, while Fletcher, who has been dogged by hamstring trouble in the past, has kicked off the last six fixtures following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with medial knee ligament damage.

Both players could now miss the Minstermen's next three games, with visits to Newport and Morecambe sandwiching a home clash against Shrewsbury, but manager Nigel Worthington has admitted that bringing in loan reinforcements before this weekend's trip to South Wales might prove difficult.

He said: "Wes Fletcher will probably be out for a couple of weeks and Michael Coulson might be similar. They both look like strains.

"We will have a scout around to see what there is about in the loan market. That's something to look at, but it is international week as well, which makes things a bit more awkward."

With Coulson and Fletcher both crocked, their respective replacements against Pompey - Lindon Meikle and Jake Hyde - could both get chances from the start in Newport with out-of-favour winger Anthony Straker another option.

Commenting on possible opportunities, Worthington challenged the squad's fringe players to follow the example of recalled midfielder Lewis Montrose, who played the entire match against Pompey having only been given one minute of league football prior to the weekend.

The City chief reasoned: "The one thing about football, whether you are in or out of the team, is that opportunity can knock at any time and you always have to be ready. That was the case with Lewis Montrose at the weekend and I thought he did well."

Defender Dave Winfield is also yet to return to training due to the thigh injury he sustained last week and Worthington explained that the club's current casualty list, which includes long-term victim Josh Carson, ruled out the possibility of a reserve fixture this week.

"We won't even consider that because, with the size of our squad, we cannot afford to get any more knocks," he pointed out.

Elsewhere, former City boss Martin Foyle has been relieved of his duties at Conference club Southport following a 5-2 home defeat to Woking at the weekend.

The reverse represented the Sandgrounders' seventh loss in nine matches and saw the club fall into the relegation zone.

Since leaving Bootham Crescent, Foyle has also managed Northwich and Hereford.