CAPTAIN Carl Fletcher has joined the growing injury list at Home Park.

A dodgy tackle by Keith Southern in the opening minutes of Argyle's 2-0 defeat to Blackpool has left the skipper with a battered knee and little chance of playing in Tuesday's clash with Barnsley.

Southern escaped with a booking in a similar scenario to Scunthorpe's Matt Sparrow, who nobbled Richard Eckersley in the first few minutes last week.

"I was disappointed with the tackle on Carl Fletcher," said head coach Paul Mariner. "He required 11 stitches and is obviously not going to play on Tuesday.

"He got melted in the knee. There were both players going down for the ball. My captain gets 11 stitches, below the knee, above the knee and by the side of the knee.

"Last week at Scunthorpe, Richard Eckersley got absolutely hammered, was carried off the field and his ankle was like a balloon, but the referee didn't see anything.

"Maybe there has been a mandate from the league to be a little cautious but I wasn't pleased with the tackle."

Luke Summerfield was drafted in as Fletcher's replacement but he also came off with an injury, and Mariner is now exploring the option of recalling some loans.

"When any team loses their leader and their captain, it doesn't tend to shake you a little bit, but Luke Summerfield went in there and did well," said Mariner.

"One of the first passes he made created a ball inside the full-back for Alan Judge, but it just didn't sit for him. On another day, it goes in the back of the net.

"Luke Summerfield came off with a tight hamstring and we hope we got him early, but none of our substitutions were planned. Everything goes out of the window when that happens.

"I will have to look at bringing back some emergency loans, if I can."