Cardiff City boss Neil Harris has been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of Saturday's Championship clash with Nottingham Forest .
The two sides will meet at the City Ground this upcoming weekend with Sabri Lamouchi 's side first having to overcome QPR on Wednesday night .
But first the Bluebirds will take on Stoke City and their chances of victory both on Tuesday evening and on Saturday have been damaged with the news that they will be without popular midfielder Joe Ralls.
One of Cardiff's key players, Ralls has been ruled out for a number of weeks with a groin injury.
He was omitted from sacked boss Neil Warnock's final squad prior to the international break with the club's media staff confident that he would return to the side once Championship action resumed.
But that has not proven to be the case with Ralls now set to miss two important games.
Harris also looks likely to be without Callum Patterson and Gavin Whyte for the midweek clash but the pair could return to face the Reds
Paterson, who can play for Cardiff in a number of positions, picked up a knock at the weekend that looks set to rule him out against Stoke - but he could still become a surprise inclusion.
Meanwhile talented Northern Ireland youngster Whyte is also unlikely.
