Gavin Ward has been ruled out of action until at least October after damaging his shoulder during a reserve game.

Ward was injured during his first appearance of the season, leaving just Carlo Nash the only fit recognised keeper within the first team.

The 35-year-old keeper was taken to hospital where doctors diagnosed he had injured the joint between the collar bone and the shoulder blade after coming out to punch the ball during the second half of Monday's reserve game against Tranmere.

Youngster Chris Neal could be put on standby for Saturday's game as cover for Nash, but boss Billy Davies has opted in recent weeks to go without a goalie on the bench.

While the injury to Ward assures Nash of his place, regular number one Andrew Lonergan is out until later this season, Davies is threatening to axe some of those in front of him.

Rarely in his time as boss has Davies publically criticised his players, but he could barely contain his anger after Saturday's 3-0 loss against Reading.

He said: "At times it was like watching 11 men against six or seven. Some of our players just didn't play and that was unacceptable.

"We have a squad and competition for places. That is what I want and I can't have another performance like that.

"I feel I owe the fans a public apology for that performance. It wasn't what we expect and I don't want it to happen again."

Despite losing Ward to injury, Davies has a pretty injury free squad to choose from.

New midfielders David Jones and Lewis Neal came through Monday's reserve game to rave reviews.

And Tyrone Mears, who sat with executive guests during Saturday's home game, is also keen to get back into the team.

He admitted before Saturday's game that he feels he owes the club, the fans and himself a 'big season' after battling to overcome injury.

He also said that there were times over the last 18 months that he feared he would never play football again as he struggled to overcome a stress fracture in his leg.

Apart from the threat of the axe, Davies knows he needs to get the constant media speculation linking players to move elsewhere out of the training ground.

"It's not helping," he admitted. "But what we need to do is find out what went wrong with the same players who did well against Derby and Watford."