Albion have been plunged into a New Year nightmare by a worsening injury and suspension crisis.

A fresh hamstring problem ruled Marcos Painter out of yesterday’s 3-0 defeat at Reading.

Liam Bridcutt was booked in the second half, his fifth of the season, and is now suspended for Saturday’s trip to bottom club Coventry City.

It leaves boss Gus Poyet without NINE players for the Coventry fixture, with four others a caution away from being suspended for next Monday’s visit by leaders Southampton.

Painter was expected to return to contention yesterday but the left-back has suffered another injury to a different area of the same hamstring.

Bridcutt, who has played every game so far this season as a defensive midfielder, picked up a yellow card against his home town club for a foul on Mikele Leigertwood.

Ashley Barnes and Romain Vincelot are already banned and Vicente, Inigo Calderon, Will Hoskins, Gary Dicker and Tommy Elphick all injured.

Painter’s absence at the Madejski Stadium meant 20-year-old development squad defender Grant Hall was on the bench.

Poyet said: “That is the situation, with two ridiculous red cards (Barnes and Vincelot) from last week and the injured players.

“We were down to 15, or 16 if you count the third goalkeeper (Michael Poke). We have got Liam Bridcutt suspended now. Maybe Jake Forster-Caskey, Anton Rodgers or Yaser Kasim will get a chance. That’s the only thing you can do, although I think Jake is injured as well.

“It’s a funny situation but that is where we are. We cannot control that. We need to make sure the ones there on Saturday are organised and good enough to win the game.”

Gordon Greer, Lewis Dunk, Mauricio Taricco and Craig Noone must avoid bookings against Coventry to be available for the Southampton match.

Albion have dropped to 11th after their third defeat in a row, while Coventry won 1-0 at home to Bristol City, their first league victory in 12 games.