Curle plays down injury concerns over duo and sees positives in derby loss

Neither Luka Racic nor Joseph Mills are expected to miss a significant period of time after one remained an unused substitute against Peterborough United on Saturday and the other limped off in the second-half.

Racic has struggled with a hamstring problem for much of the season so far. He was taken off at half-time against MK Dons and Bristol City in cup competitions before being left on the bench at the weekend.

Mills, meanwhile, also limped off in the EFL Trophy defeat at Dons four weeks ago and then had to be replaced by Ricky Korboa during the second-half of Saturday's derby defeat.

"Luka has been suffering from a hamstring injury that's been niggling him and he's not been able to perform at a 100 per cent, in his opinion," said manager Keith Curle.

"It's about risk and reward and do you play someone who has openly admitted that he's only at 80, 85 per cent? I think that would be disrespectful because we've got players that can do a capable job in that situation.

"He did the right thing by informing me of it and saying he doesn't feel 100 per cent and I thought Michael Harriman did very well.

"With Joseph, I think he's just rolled his ankle so hopefully it'll settle down after a couple of days and he should be OK."

Despite watching his side succumb to a third successive 2-0 defeat in the league, Curle did see some positives on Saturday.

"I thought (Benny) Ashley-Seal did very well as a substitute and I thought Michael Harriman did well and Ryan Watson was good when he came on," added the Town boss. "On another day, Sam Hoskins could have had two goals.

"It was a great save from the goalkeeper at 0-0. It would have been nice to have somebody following that in for a tap-in and then right at the end Sam had another opportunity.

"There's also more to come from Danny (Rose) and Jack (Sowerby) the more they get to know the group and the dynamics of the changing room and the football club. I think they'll be good servants to the football club."