SUFFOLK have been hit by a defensive crisis ahead of tomorrow's FA County Youth Cup tie against Cambridgeshire.Captain Elliot Hunter, who was injured playing for Bury Town's first team against Chesham last week, and fellow centre half Jack Cole (Leiston) are both ruled out by knee injuries while right back Shane Risby (Lowestoft Town) is currently suspended.

Nick Garnham

SUFFOLK have been hit by a defensive crisis ahead of tomorrow's FA County Youth Cup tie against Cambridgeshire.

Captain Elliot Hunter, who was injured playing for Bury Town's first team against Chesham last week, and fellow centre half Jack Cole (Leiston) are both ruled out by knee injuries while right back Shane Risby (Lowestoft Town) is currently suspended.

Cornard United's Danny Swain is also injured, but three of his team-mates have been called up to the squad - Shane Barnes, Matt Cripps and Sam Nunn - for the second-round tie at Hadleigh United's Millfield ground, start 2pm.

Suffolk manager Andy Gould admitted: “It is a blow to be without three of our back four who have not conceded a goal in our three games so far, but I am fortunate to be able to call in three good replacements.

“We have got to get on with it and not feel sorry for ourselves, and approach the game with the same mindset as if we had a full squad available.

“Goalkeeper Nick Pope has been excellent for us this season and I am confident that the players I have brought in will do a similar job at the back.”

It was Cambridgeshire, of course, who Suffolk defeated 2-1 in the final at Portman Road when they won the competition two seasons ago.

Gould added: “Undoubtedly they will be looking to exact some measure of revenge for that defeat, but it is two completely different sets of players, and the result of that game will not have any bearing on Saturday's game whatsoever.”

The majority of the Cambridgeshire side, who defeated Oxford United 3-2 in the first round, is made up of players from Blue Square Premier outfit Histon.

The winners will be away to Birmingham, the holders, with the tie scheduled for late December.

Suffolk squad: Shane Barnes (Cornard Utd), Joe Boreham (Bury Town), Joe Clark (Lowestoft Town), Matt Cripps (Cornard Utd), Josh Curry (Bury Town), Christy Finch, Jack Garrod (both Lowestoft Town), Alex Holmes (Kirkley & Pakefield), Danny Hitching, Fred Howe, Luke Ingram (all Bury Town), James Lane (Newmarket Town), Sam Nunn (Cornard Utd), Nick Pope (Bury Town), Luke Wade, Jack Wilkinson (both Needham Market).