Coleraine keeper suffers facial injury in training

Coleraine face a mounting defensive injury crisis just a week out from their opening league game of the new season at Dungannon Swifts.

Goalkeeper Ryan Schofield suffered a facial injury in training this week and is expected to undergo an operation in the coming days.

He joins central defenders Cameron Stewart and Aidan Wilson on the injured list after they both picked up knocks in pre-season.

And with Mark Connolly and Charles having departed the Showgrounds during the summer that leaves just one fit centre-back - Kodi Lyons-Foster, who didn't feature against HJK Helsinki on Thursday - on the books.

The club is expected to delve into the transfer market this week, with a goalkeeper and defensive options top of the shopping list.

"Yes, we're having a few issues," admitted head coach Ruaidhri Higgins following the European defeat.

"Ryan Schofield has to have an operation in the next 24 hours following a training ground collision on Wednesday so that's another one in that area of the pitch.

"We're having problems in that sort of defensive pitch in terms of injuries. It's something that we need to sort out and we will.

"We were always going into the market anyway because Charles Dunne and Mark Connolly have both left the club, Aidan Wilson's got an injury and Cameron Stewart's got an injury.

"Regardless if Cameron and Aidan hadn't got injured we were still going into the market for a centre-back and that hasn't changed.

"It's just the numbers that we bring in now might change to what we were initially thinking.

"Cameron, hopefully, isn't far away if his rehab goes according to plan but Aidan is a bit longer.

"We're not sure on the exact extent of time but it's not long-term," he added.