Brighton next up for PNE as boss Alex Neil waits for injury updates

Neil had to substitute Ben Davies and Alan Browne in the latter stages of the 2-2 draw with Norwich at Carrow Road.

Daniel Johnson sat out the game with a groin strain he picked-up in training on Friday, although he did make the trip to Norwich.

On Saturday lunchtime Jayden Stockley had to be taken out of the squad and sent home due to a Covid scare in the family.

His daughter had shown symptoms and needed to be tested, Stockley having to isolate until the result comes through.

However things work out with Stockley, Neil envisages similar situations could crop up with other members of the squad if the virus continues to spread at the current rate.

Neil said: “Lads in the squad have kids who go to school. I’ve got two kids myself who go to different school and travel on public transport.

“How do you stop them being exposed to this? It is a big concern going forward.”

Josh Earl, currently out injured, is another player having to self-isolate at the moment after being in contact with someone with symptoms.

Davies and Browne came off as part of a triple change in the 80th minute as North End sough to hold Norwich at bay.

Unfortunately, Norwich did equalise a few minutes later to make it 2-2, Scott Sinclair and Darnell Fisher on target in the first half.

The Canries had equalised Sinclair’s goal from the penalty spot before Fisher scored his first goal for the club to regain the lead.

Neil said: “Matt Jackson out physio called over to say Ben was struggling with his hamstrings, he had cramp in both of them.

“Ben is only just back from a hamstring injury at the end of last season.

“We have another game on Wednesday, Paul Huntington is suspended for that, so we need to take care of Ben.

“Alan Browne’s calf was tightening up so that is why he came off.

“Did I want to take those two guys off? Of course I didn’t because what they had given me in the games was brilliant.

“But I need to take decisions to protect them.”

Regarding Johnson being ruled out, Neil said: “DJ got a groin strain in training.

“I doubt he will turn over a groin strain in two or three days, that would be cutting things fine.

Huntington’s suspension is the legacy of yellow cards in both the previous rounds against Mansfield and Derby.

Bookings in the Carabao Cup aren’t carried over into the league.