Oldham Athletic's injury nightmare continues with defenders Jordan Clarke and Mitchell Roberts added to the list of casualties.

Clarke was substituted at half-time against Chester with a suspected broken hand, with Roberts suffering a knee injury early in the second half and limping off within five minutes of the re-start after making a block tackle.

That left Latics, who led 1-0 at the time, having to make two enforced changes and reorganising to switch from a back five to a back four, with Nathan Sheron taking up three positions during the 90 minutes, with limited defensive options on the bench.

And both look set to miss at least the next two games, with Latics heading to a FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay at the Deva Stadium on Tuesday night, following this afternoon's 1-1 draw at Boundary Park.

"Clarkey looks like he's broken his hand and Robbo's hurt his knee when he had that block tackle, so both are looking doubtful for next week, which is a blow. Clarkey especially has done really well recently," said Latics boss David Unsworth after the game.

"It really did disrupt it, at the same time we need to handle that, but it did.

"But it's an opportunity for other people."

And it is not all bad news on the injury front.

Latics welcomed back midfielder Dan Gardner for the cup tie after a month out, and Lois Maynard made his home debut after missing the first nine weeks of the season.

There is also marked progress among the other absentees, which Unsworth is hoping will boost the squad in the coming days and weeks.

"Chris Porter's going to be training on Monday, Zaine (Francis-Angol) trained on Friday, I saw the skipper (Liam Hogan) today and he had his boot off yesterday (Friday) which is great news so he's now going to be working with Baz (Mick Rathbone) and we'll try to arrange a couple of games for him over a couple of weeks. So that's really good," Unsworth added.

"Hallam (Hope) is back training on the grass. Whether he'll be available for next Saturday I'm not sure but the sooner we get him back, he's a big player for us, and maybe him and Ports and the captain coming back are the X factor that we need, and hopefully we might have a few additions as well.

"If we can bring any players that improve us in all areas, brilliant.

"I think the players are giving us everything, I know they are because I work with them every day. You just can't keep doing the same things and hoping that you're going to turn the switch on and win every week, it just doesn't work like that.

"We need to add some much needed quality.

"The phone never stops so we keep working and I'll certainly not stop trying to help the club and these players and the supporters. The supporters behind me are really frustrated, I'm really frustrated, it's a game we should have won.

"I understand that it's been like that for a long time and we've got to do something different, because if we don't it will continue to be like that.

"It's my job to do something different and I can assure you I will."