Plymouth Argyle are waiting to find out the full extent of the injury picked up by defender Brendan Galloway in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw against Oxford United at Home Park on Tuesday night.

Galloway has been ruled out of the visit of Queens Park Rangers on Saturday lunchtime and with Kornel Szucs also sidelined the Pilgrims are very short of defensive options. They are left with Julio Pleguezuelo and Victor Palsson as their only recognised centre-backs.

The injuries to Galloway and Szucs have come after Argyle sold defender Lewis Gibson to Championship rivals Preston North End for £1.5 million early in the January transfer window.

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Goalkeeper Conor Hazard is a doubt for bottom-of-the-table Argyle against QPR after he missed the midweek match due to injury, but there could be a return to action for striker Ryan Hardie, who hurt his left shoulder during the New Year's Day 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City.

Argyle head coach Miron Muslis said about Galloway: "He's out for Saturday. It looks like a hip or quadriceps but we are going to have the confirmation from the scan on Saturday."

Szucs was an unused substitute for the 1-0 Emirates FA Cup third round win away to Brentford last Saturday but did not make the squad at all against Oxford. Muslic said: "He has a very nice profile so it's a pity we can't use him in this moment. It's an injury we are speaking about for maybe 10-12 days and he's already out for five so hopefully very soon he will return."

When asked about Argyle's shortage of defenders for the game against QPR, Muslic joked: "I already asked Nance (first team coach Kevin Nancekivell) can he play at centre-back and he told me he can play everything! I don't believe him!"

More seriously, he added: "That's for sure a position we are struggling with, with Brendan now out and also Kornel not available. I have to look for solutions inside our squad."

Muslic will not take any risks with the fitness of Hazard so Dan Grimshaw looks likely to continue between the posts for Argyle as they try to end a run of 12 Championship games without a win.

The Pilgrims' boss said about Hazard: "He's still doubtful, we are playing against the time but on his decision it's impossible for us to think only short term because if we think only game by game we will lose players for weeks and months.

"This is something we clearly cannot afford because it's a very important player for us. I will use him only if he's able to play on 100 per cent and if there are no risks for later. Again, it's not about one or two games, it's about staying up after the last game."

At least there is positive news for Argyle about Hardie, who successfully came through a session yesterday (Wednesday). "He did everything he had to do," said Muslic. "We get the green lights for Hardie. I think he's selectable and I have some plans for him."

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