A PERFORATED EARDRUM, concussion and a quad muscle tear have lead to Donegal’s Mark McHugh to be ruled out of next Saturday’s crunch qualifier clash against Laois in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Jim McGuinness’s side are aiming to bounce back in the Round 4 tie from last Sunday’s Ulster final loss to Monaghan in Clones.
But they will have to do that without their key forward after he suffered the injuries after a heavy collision with Monaghan player Stephen Gollogly in the early stages of last Sunday’s game.
BBC Sport Northern Ireland has reported that last year’s All-Ireland winning attacker will now be absent for the meeting with Laois.
McHugh had to be substituted in the 9th minute of last Sunday’s tie with David Walsh coming on to replace him.
His absence was a huge blow to Donegal’s prospects of claiming their third consecutive provincial senior crown and they eventually slumped to a 0-13 to 0-7 loss.
Now McHugh will be unavailable for Donegal again and if they are successful against Justin McNulty’s side, the Kilcar club man could also be sidelined for their All-Ireland quarter-final tie on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
His younger brother Ryan could come into the team as his replacement after he was brought into last Sunday’s tie at Ulster final at half-time. He impressed during his second-half cameo and fired over a great long-range point.
