Cardiff City could go into Saturday’s Championship match against Wolves without a recognised senior striker.
Manager Neil Warnock may turn to untried raw recruit Ibrahim Meite for the clash at Moline.
Top-scorer Kenneth Zohore is doubtful with a tear to his calf, while former England striker Rickie Lambert is also injured.
“Kenneth Zohore is the biggest worry,” said Warnock. “What we don’t want to do is make it worse.
“He has done some light training and has travelled.
“But you just don’t know with calf injuries. I had a few in my time. Some took 10 days and some took three weeks to recover.
“We don’t want to make it worse so if there’s any doubt we said not to push it and keep away until next weekend.
“Rickie Lambert has a slight problem and he will be assessed.”
Rhys Healey is ruled out long-term by injury, while Frederic Gounongbe is still under contract, but doesn’t figure in Warnock’s plans.
He has not appeared in any match during 2017.
Adam Le Fondre and Idriss Saadi are both out on loan and ineligible which means Meite, aged 20, is the only out-and-out striker available.
The tall, long-striding Meite has been an unused substitute, but has yet to have his first taste of Championship action since Warnock signed him from Harrow Borough.
“He’s still extremely raw, but his potential is absolutely huge,” said Harrow manager Steve Baker at the time. “He has pace to burn and scores goals.”
Meite was playing Isthmian League football, the seventh tier of English football, and had scored 17 goals in 30 appearances.
He was attracting attention from Premier League clubs, including a spell on trial at Leicester City, when Cardiff moved in.
Meite, who grew up on a council estate in Roehampton, south-west London, is nicknamed ‘The Shark’ for his predatory instincts in front of goal.
Around 1,500 Bluebirds fans will follow their team to Wolves as Warnock’s team aim to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.
Cardiff, who are 13th in the table on 61 points, six more than Wolves, play a second away match in four days when they travel to Barnsley on Tuesday, while they are at home against Brentford next Saturday.
Warnock is already planning for next season and says his two top earners, Peter Whittingham and Bruno Manga, have been asked to take pay cuts to remain at the club.
Both players are out of contract in the summer and neither has yet has signed the reduced terms on offer.
Warnock is keen to keep both players at the club, but says he has to reduce the wage bill.
“He (Whittingham) can’t be on the contract he’s on now,” said the Bluebirds manager. “Like Manga he’s one of the top earners at the club.”
Warnock says he hopes the players will be enticed to stay because they are comfortable in their surroundings.
Winger Kadeem Harris is another Cardiff player negotiating on a new contract, but no deal has yet been agreed.
Wolves v Cardiff City, possible Lineups:
Bluebirds: McGregor, Richards, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Noone, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, K Harris, Hoilett, Zohore or Meite.
Wolves: Ikeme, Coady, Batth, Hause, Doherty, Evans, Edwards, Costa, Cavaleiro, Marshall, Weimann.