Town boss Kieran McKenna says keeper Christian Walton will be out for “a few months rather than a few weeks” having sustained a plantar fascia tear, but better news is that Massimo Luongo, Nathan Broadhead and Cameron Humphreys will travel to Sunderland, while Harry Clarke is back in training.

Walton picked up the injury in pre-season and missed last Friday’s friendlies in Austria. Subsequently, speculative reports claimed the 27-year-old would be out for up to the first six matches, however, the news, once the former Brighton man had seen a specialist on Wednesday, proved even worse.

“Of course it’s a blow for Christian because he was really looking forward to the season and going to test and show himself again at this level,” McKenna said at his first pre-mathc press conference of the season.

“And any team would miss Christian’s qualities that he brings, but Vaz [second-choice Vaclav Hladky] has been terrific for us on and off the pitch in the 18 months I’ve been here. Of course, he played in my first game, showed his qualities, kept a clean sheet.

“I thought he was terrific in pretty much every game he played last season, in the FA Cup, the Carabao, he didn’t have a lot to do but also in the Papa Johns as well.

“I think he was terrific in every game he played. He’s got his own qualities and his own strengths that he brings to his team and showed them last season, he shows them every day in training and he’s an important member of the group.

“That’s football, you have injuries, you have setbacks over the course of the season and that’s why we have a squad and why we have goalkeeping department, so that others are ready to step in when the opportunities come.

“It’s going to be more like a few months than a few weeks. It’s a longer term one. He’s had a tear in his plantar fascia, which is a strange injury for any footballer to get, and certainly for a goalkeeper to pick it up in a pre-season friendly is very unusual.

“But it is what it is, he’s getting the best care and treatment, he’s got his treatment plan now, he’s been to see the specialist, there’s no surgery required, it’s just a matter of rest and no doubt Christian will come back stronger for the experience and no doubt that as a team we’ll be absolutely fine.”

Regarding Luongo (groin) and Broadhead (quad), McKenna says they’ll travel to Sunderland.

“They’ve all returned to training today, so they’re all available to travel,” he said. “We’re going to bring a few extra because we’ve had some niggles. We’ll bring a few extra to Sunderland and we’ll make the decisions if not Sunday then after training tomorrow on who’s going to be available for what minutes.

“They’ve all returned to training this week, which is a big positive, which means that Christian Walton is the only player in terms of injury not available for the first game.”

Clarke is suspended having been red-carded on the final day of last season at Fleetwood, but would probably have missed out anyway due to the achilles problem he has been suffering with since last season. However, the former Arsenal man has joined in with the rest of the squad.

“He’s in the group, he returned to some training with the group this week, so looks to be going in the right direction,” McKenna said. “Let’s see how that continues and whether he’ll be available for some minutes next week.”

The Blues boss is likely to pick from Janoi Donacien or Dominic Ball at right-back at the Stadium of Light.

“A good position to be in, we want to be strong across all positions with at least two, and with how Dominic’s done in pre-season it gives us currently three in that position, two available for this weekend,” he said.

“That’s the strength we want to have across all positions because it’s a long season and we’re going to need a strong squad and we’re strong in that position and whoever plays the minutes across this weekend, I’m sure will go and do a good job for the team.”

Cam Humphreys has trained again this week following his absence due to concussion protocols.

Photo: Matchday Images

joyousblue added 16:59 - Aug 4 Jaso999 how does two months out in early august end up being november before hes back , its not quite tge same rehab for a gk as an outfield player
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SWBlue22 added 17:01 - Aug 4 FFS and it was all going so well. Such an important player for us.
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johnwarksshorts added 17:11 - Aug 4 Big loss, but these things happen. Good luck with your recovery Christian. Good luck Hlackty.
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churchmans added 17:12 - Aug 4 A lot of pollocks being spouted about signing a loan keeper! Dum phucks! We got several keepers to choose from if they where not good enough as a back up for this kind of situation then they wouldn't be here at the club! I have no concerns about Walton being out for a few months! Hladcky,slicker and the other 2keepers it gives them a great opportunity! Let's see
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johnwarksshorts added 17:12 - Aug 4 Big loss, but these things happen. Good luck with your recovery Christian. Good luck Hlackty.
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therein61 added 17:13 - Aug 4 Step up Vaz here's your chance to claim the shirt.
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Suffolkboy added 17:27 - Aug 4 The very best of luck C W : it’s an awkward and potentially painful injury ,for which recovery time seems entirely variable . With top class Consultancy supervision let’s all hope you are privileged to effect a speedy and perfect recovery ! Keep the spirits up ! COYB
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superblues9 added 17:46 - Aug 4 So unless you vote vaz saying he will do great everyone votes U down ! Pointless activity really why did we sign Walton in first place because g wasn’t good enough for league one now he’s going to be good enough for championship is he ! People don’t know what they are talking about on here
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Tractor_Boy_Tommy added 17:50 - Aug 4 Well that’s just screwed us for the next few months good job I’m not expecting anything from this season
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Nomore4 added 18:00 - Aug 4 Over to you Slicker….just what’s required a modern sweeper keeper.
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gosblue added 18:07 - Aug 4 All the very best to you Christian. It must be heart breaking. I tore mine playing squash and it took a long time to get right. But it does get better. Relief came by way of rolling a tennis ball. Enjoy the extra time you can spend with your family. If you haven’t already got one, get a swimming pool and listen for us singing your name on Sunday. It turns out the best signing this season was hanging on to Vacláv.

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blueboy1981 added 18:34 - Aug 4 Quite amazing how Hladky was criticised more than once previously at a lower level, and suddenly becomes a ‘fine’ Goalkeeper for the Championship … !! We’ll see - not long to wait now, and to see if we’ve dragged our feet, and missed out on a couple of crucial signings - certainly a commanding Championship experienced CB … !! Lets’ hope not …..
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PimsNumber1 added 18:47 - Aug 4 Dreadful news .Hladky makes me as nervous as hell ..Every touch every decision every cross makes me panic.How he was league 2 goalie of the year before we signed him baffles me .To say he's got a 'mistake ' in him is an understatement. If I was Mogga I would tell his strikers to fire from.any distance .He's tiny for a goalie as well so every set piece ..panic ..He's useless basically

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grow_our_own added 18:50 - Aug 4 Statistically Hladky was the worst keeper in L1 in 21/22. Was "hilarious Hladky", apparently more concerned about his good looks than diving towards posts and dominating his six yard box. I'm instinctively mistrustful of good-looking keepers ;-) I'm not worried if he can sustain last season's form, when he was much improved. He's better with his feet than Walton, so if anything playing out from the back will be better.

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phillymark added 19:08 - Aug 4 See this injury a few times a year in the NFL. Always a long recovery
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blueboy1981 added 19:44 - Aug 4 With a couple of days before every minute and every mistake will count - I feel there maybe a few Squeaky Bums now with the niggles and longer term injuries already ! It starts for Real in less than 48 hrs Folks !
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Vancouver_Blue added 19:49 - Aug 4 Bart is available.....just saying
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SickParrot added 20:06 - Aug 4 I think our season will probably be defined by our defending. I am confident that we are capable of scoring plenty of goals but I am concerned that we may concede too many because of errors by defenders. Our keeper is likely to be busy, so we need Vaz to step up. It's a great opportunity for him though and I hope he excels.
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gosblue added 20:28 - Aug 4 Hladky has been working with some of the best coaches in the country as well as the best keeper outside the Prem. I would be very surprised if he hasn’t improved. This forum is often guilty of not being able to spot improvements in players but is also very quick to forgive the failings of our home grown players and are even angry if they are moved on. Let’s at least give him a chance. Our amazing staff know exactly what they are doing and are ruthless if someone isn’t up to the mark.

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bobble added 01:39 - Aug 5 all these cry babies whining about being voted down !!! what sort of wimps are our clubs fans becoming ? vote me down at your leisure , i never look at the votey bit anyhow,,,
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:24 - Aug 5 Blueboy obviously waiting for a few poor results so he can ''justify ''his moaning and can crow from the rooftops that he knows best . KM and MA, ARE NOT STUPID,they will have been and will still be, working hard to get the right players in ,the speed at which they manage to do it is not always in their hands .We may not have the strongest or most expensive squad but we have better than many .coyb

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Ebantiass added 10:44 - Aug 5 Not great news for Christian or our club, let us hope for a speedy recovery. Best of luck Vaz you a certainly good enough and time to prove your quality
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