PAUDIE O’Connor insists City have the strength in depth to cope as they suddenly find their squad tested by key absences.

Gary Bowyer hopes to find out today the extent of Matty Palmer’s injury after the challenge which saw Scunthorpe’s Matty Lund sent off. The midfielder had to leave Saturday’s game in a knee brace.

James Vaughan also picked up a fifth booking for late dissent – which means he is banned for next weekend’s home clash against Swindon.

Read more: Simon Parker's verdict on missed chance at Scunthorpe

And Ben Richards-Everton will still be missing as he continues his suspension for the recent red card against Carlisle.

But O’Connor, who headed the equaliser at Glanford Park, is confident that City possess the resources to fill those holes.

He said: “It will be a test but we’ve seen in previous weeks and in training that we’ve a hell of a squad put together.

“The likes of Hope (Akpan), Danny Devine, Shay McCartan and Remi (Aramide Oteh) will all be putting their hands up during the week and expressing their need to get a start.

“I don’t think we’ll be any weaker for it come Saturday.

“Some players might get a little bit complacent so either through loss of form, suspension and injury, there are always going to be chances and opportunities for the other lads who haven’t been playing as much.”

Palmer’s ever-present start in League Two looks set to end when he undergoes a scan later today.

Bowyer was highly critical of the lunging tackle from Lund although O’Connor said: “I don’t think he meant any malice.

“It looks really bad in real time. But from playing the game, I know it was just a bit of a mistimed one.”

O’Connor also got a close-up view of the incident which led to Scunthorpe’s penalty after Kelvin Mellor was adjudged to have handled as he made to block a shot from Jamie Ward.

“I was right behind Kelv and my first reaction was that it was a block,” he added. “His hand was pretty much in a natural position.

“I spoke to Ward after and even he felt it was a bit of a harsh decision. But sometimes you get them, other times you don’t.

“You’ve got to let things like that fly over your head and crack on and I think we did.

“The gaffer said to us in the dressing room after the game that the positive we do take out of it is that we came back from one down again.

“That shows the never-say-die character and it’s another point on the board.”

Zeli Ismail sat out Saturday with a knock from the Leasing.com Trophy game against Man City under-21s but Bowyer expects him to be back in the frame.