WEYMOUTH manager Bobby Wilkinson has again bemoaned the Terras’ growing defensive injury crisis, insisting: “This is just getting stupid now”.

Wilkinson’s comment comes after Oxford City loanee Charlie Rowan became the latest Weymouth defender to suffer injury.

Rowan threw himself into an aerial duel during the 3-1 loss to Taunton on Boxing Day and came off worst, dislocating his collar bone and snapping a ligament. He may need surgery.

Rowan joins Teddy Howe (knee), David Sesay (ankle) and Tom Bearwish (suspension) on the sidelines for the return fixture at Taunton on Friday evening (7.45pm).

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-3 Taunton Town - match reaction

However, Dan Matsuzaka should return after an admin error forced him to miss the Taunton loss, and Harry Kyprianou played his first minutes since suffering a hamstring injury at AFC Wimbledon.

Speaking to Echosport after witnessing Rowan’s injury, Wilkinson said: “He wears his heart on sleeve and he was outstanding in the first 20 minutes.

“A proper warrior, a proper leader but a good player at the same time.

“So, you’re really happy, you think you’ve got someone here for the next month and to lose him, this is just getting stupid now.

“It’s another defender that I’ve lost. This one’s frustrating for me. Now I have to play players out of position again on Friday.

“I’ve had to move my centre midfielder into centre-half, I’ve got a central midfielder playing right-back and left-back.

“No wonder we’re conceding goals, because we can’t get a balanced side. People don’t see that.

“As soon as I have a settled back four, I’ll win games of football. If you keep clean sheets or you’re hard to beat, you win games.”

Wilkinson also likened the situation to a surge of injuries, with Weymouth not long ago having ten players out injured or ill.

“I’m going through another tidal wave, aren’t I?”

“It’s not a coincidence that we win four out of five with a settled back four and now we’re losing games again.

“That’s how it is, that isn’t excuses. I’m really mad. I’m gutted for the fans, the players.

“What must they be thinking? You don’t often see me come here and show emotion but I’m very emotional because it’s just another obstacle I’ve got to deal with.

“It is another tidal wave but I’ll ride it, no problems, here we go again and I’ll work hard.”