Suspensions mount The captain joins fellow defender Mthokozisi Dube on the naughty list.

Captain Nemanja Vidic and fellow defender Rafael remain sidelined.

They will also probably be without fellow defender Roy Miller, who has a hamstring injury.

Centre back Phil Jones is absent with mild thrombosis and fellow defender Marcos Rojo is lacking match sharpness.

Dunne and fellow defender were critical of some of manager Gerard Houllier's coaching staff during a team break.

Bohemians captain Owen Heary is still struggling with a hamstring strain, though fellow defender Evan McMillan is back from suspension.

Lovren has yet to recover from a hamstring problem and along with fellow defender Joe Gomez is on Liverpool's injured list.

Hummels and fellow defender Jerome Boateng suffered injuries in Germany's 4-0 win over Portugal on Monday.

Indeed, with fellow defender Steven Gray expected to miss a number of matches after the break, the Foyleside squad is expected to be stretched.

The Argentina international suffered the problem in last night's 4-1 win over Real Sociedad and joins fellow defender Jordi Alba on the sidelines.

What's a few little germs among fellow defenders of the innocent?

Fellow defender Christopher Joyce is already out for the season having torn his cruciate in March.

Fellow defenders Kelly Jury and Temalisi Fakahokotau were not considered as they continue their rehabilitation from injury.

Fellow defender Sean Hoare also needs to prove his fitness following his recovery from a hamstring tear.

So Upamecano and his fellow defenders will be encouraged to dash and probe as much as ever.

Fellow defender Alan Ruschel had spinal surgery.