Cambridge United midfielder Josh Stokes sidelined by knee injury while Elias Kachunga and Ryan Loft return to training ahead of trip to Wycombe Wanderers

Cambridge United have suffered numerous problems with injuries so far this season – and Josh Stokes is the latest player to be on the treatment table.

The attacking midfielder has impressed since joining the U’s on a season-long loan deal from EFL Championship side Bristol City last month, with his five appearances yielding a return of four assists.

However, it was during last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Mansfield Town – against whom that the 20-year-old laid on United’s goal, scored by Emmanuel Longelo – that Stokes suffered a knee problem.

And a subsequent scan has revealed that he is now set for a spell of ‘four to six weeks’ on the sidelines.

Head coach Garry Monk said: “Unfortunately he’s picked up an injury from Mansfield – he woke up the next day with a swollen knee.

“He had a scan on Monday and he’s out for a period of time – typical, when it rains it pours. The timeframe is anywhere between four to six weeks.”

However, in more positive news on the injury front ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League One trip to Wycombe Wanderers, Monk revealed that both Elias Kachunga and Ryan Loft have taken a full part in training over recent days.

Kachunga has not featured since 17 August due to a hamstring complaint, while striker Loft is yet to feature for the club following his arrival from Port Vale during the summer.

“Elias and Lofty are training, full training properly. I’ll make a decision on those two (for the Wycombe game) tomorrow,” he added.

“They haven’t been training for long, but it’s been long enough to make a decision on them.

“I’ll speak to them and see how they after training tomorrow. We need players playing and we need players available, but we just have to be careful because they’ve been out for a prolonged period.

“Rushing them back when they’re not ready could prove an even bigger problem for us. It’s all about judgment and not just my eye, but the players themselves and then the sports science.”

Summer addition Gary Gardner is still not ready to make his United debut due to tendonitis in his Achilles.