BLUES boss Gareth Ainsworth hinted he could dip into the loan market for a midfielder with Stuart Lewis injured and Josh Scowen suspended.

Skipper Lewis has been missing for the last three games through a hamstring strain that he hasn’t managed to shake off, while Scowen was hit with a two game ban yesterday.

The records may show Saturday’s booking was his ninth of the season but the youngster also saw yellow in the abandoned game at Portsmouth.

The result of that game may not count but the bookings do – meaning Scowen is set for a spell out through suspension.

Ainsworth has the option of recalling Jesse Kewley-Graham or Matt Spring to the side in a straight swap for Scowen.

Despite featuring on the bench in recent matches, 20-year-old Kewley-Graham hasn’t played for Blues this season, while the experienced Spring appears to have been frozen out of the picture after not even making the squad since December 7.

A lack of match fitness for the duo is no doubt a concern to Ainsworth, who instead is looking for someone who is ready to slot straight into the team.

He said: “We’ll look at that and see where Stu is. We’ll maybe have a little look in the loan market and see if there’s anything around, but it’s going to be very quick with this turnaround of games. You need people who are ready to go.

“Stu’s very close. We didn’t want to rush him back.”

Ainsworth added: “I didn’t think Josh deserved to be booked today. I thought it was a fair tackle but the referee’s seen otherwise, and that costs you sometimes.”