Sven wants new blood

Aside from £8million new-boy Rolando Bianchi, Eriksson has only last season's mis-firing quartet of Georgios Samaras, Bernardo Corradi, Darius Vassell and Paul Dickov to call on ahead of Saturday's trip to Arsenal. And, as he is also lacking midfield options, Eriksson is keen to do some more shopping ahead of the August 31 transfer deadline.

"Work is going on in the office," he told the club website mcfc.co.uk. "We didn't want to have to do it but we have to look carefully at the situation because when you have a player who needs this kind of operation and rehabilitation, you can never be sure how long it takes to come back."

He added: "To lose one player for such a long time is a big blow.

"But it is not only a striker, we need one or two midfielders as well to be covered properly."

Bojinov's injury has seen Eriksson switch his thoughts away from reinforcing his goalkeeping pool even though a move for Livorno's Marco Amelia has long been touted.

Instead, it appears increasingly likely the former England coach will stick with Kasper Schmeichel, who has started his senior career with three consecutive clean sheets, and England Under-21 international Joe Hart, knowing he will have more experienced back-up in Andreas Isaksson once his fellow countryman recovers from a broken thumb.

"I would say the goalkeeping situation is on ice at the moment," he said.