Neal Ardley does not believe Alex Lacey’s injury will keep him out for the long term - but is expecting the defender to miss their trip to AFC Fylde.
The former Luton defender was forced to sit out the 2-0 defeat at Hartlepool United at the weekend because of a problem with his hip.
Lacey had tried to pass a fitness test on Friday, but was subsequently handed the weekend off to try to help the healing process.
He will be assessed again ahead of the trip to Jim Bentley’s side, but Magpies boss Ardley is not hopeful of having the former Gilligham defender available.
“I don’t think it is anything long term,” he said.
“We’ve had it scanned and nothing serious has showed up.
“I was hoping he would be available for Saturday, but something is not quite right.
“We gave him the weekend off to help settle it down because we’ve kept pushing it and pushing it.
“Maybe a few days of doing nothing might help him, but am I expecting to be ready for Fylde? No.
“We’ve got the cup game on Saturday, so we will wait and see how he progresses.”
Lacey’s absence is a huge blow to Notts with the defender having formed an excellent partnership with Connell Rawlinson in the heart of the back four since his arrival on a free transfer.
With experienced defender Ben Turner also out for the next six to eight weeks, Notts moved to bolster their options by signing Adam Long on loan from Wigan last week.
He made his debut at Hartlepool at the weekend as the Magpies slipped to defeat courtesy of two goals from Nicky Featherstone.
But in what were testing conditions, Ardley was pleased with the 19-year-old’s contribution.
“I didn’t think he did anything wrong,” he said.
“He defended well, he stayed in his shape and I knew that for a team that would pull us about, it would be a tough one for a young lad making his debut.
“But he trained excellently on Thursday and Friday so I saw everything that I needed to in order to be brave enough to play him.
“Obviously Alex couldn’t get through training and didn’t quite feel right.
“It would have been great to have his experience, but it wasn’t to be.”
Ardley also explained why Long was preferred over Pierce Bird who was left on the substitutes’ bench having played in the 1-1 draw against Woking in the previous weekend.
“I watch training every day,” he said.
“And people who get to see little bits and bobs in games don’t get to see everything that goes on in training in the way people defend and put bodies on the line.
“Sometimes that tells me what decision to make.”
