FRENCHMAN Mat Doumbe will require an x-ray after limping out of Argyle's 1-0 Championship win over Preston.

Doumbe hobbled off after just 30 minutes with a possible cracked bone in his foot. It would be a big blow for manager Paul Sturrock, who has come to rely on him as a converted right-back, allowing skipper Karl Duguid to settle into his preferred midfield role..

"Doumbe is going to need an x-ray," said Luggy.

"It has swollen up. It could have been a stud on the foot and a wee crack but, hopefully not. We would miss him.

"It is an alien position to him but he has grabbed it with both hands and Duguid has been an influence in the centre of midfield.

"I have to decide whether I bring Duguid back [for Saturday's clash with Ipswich] or if McNamee has done enough, or whether a lefty in the right-back position would be appropriate - lots of things to weigh up.

"Duguid has now committed himself to being a centre-midfield. He did ok [at right-back] but I think he has made his mind up that he is a centre-midfielder."

Doumbe's departure forced Luggy to introduce left-back Jim Paterson as an emergency centre-midfielder, where he performed admirably alongside Luke Summerfield.

"Jim Paterson did a sterling job when he went in there as well," said Luggy.

"Summers did very well and Jim Paterson went in there in an alien position and did very well."

Belgian strike Emile Mpenza was a surprise absentee from the squad facing Preston - he is suffering from a slight knee problem.

Luggy revealed: "Mpenza has had a wee problem for a couple of weeks. The back of his knee has been getting sore, so we had a little chat and decided to give him an injection to clear it up."