Delaney has partnered summer signing Michael Turner in a central defence that has conceded five goals in the defeats to West Brom and Barnsley. With Danny Coles still out until next month with a long term injury and Sam Collins also struggling with a thigh injury sustained during pre-season, Parkinson must be looking at making a signing if Delaney's injury is as bad as feared. Right-back Alton Thelwell and centre forward Jon Parkin have played that position before in their careers and could be stop-gap replacements.
Parkinson has strengthened elsewhere in his side though, completing the loan signing of winger Mark Yeates from Spurs. Central midfielder Mark Noble is also rumoured to be making a surprise return on loan from West Ham, with Ipswich also interested.