Midfielder Allen has had his loan spell at Wrexham cut short after suffering ankle ligament damage in a training session on Tuesday, and could be out of action for up to a month.

The Wales under 21 international, who was due to sit out Saturday's FA Cup final qualifying round tie against Eastwood Town at The Racecourse because parent club Swansea City did not want him cup tied, has impressed in his two appearances for the Reds after joining on an initial one month deal.

Allen scored on his debut and was named man of the match as Wrexham beat York City 3-1, and the 18-year-old also helped the Reds overcome Mansfield Town 2-1 on Saturday.

And with Andy Fleming also sidelined with a cartilage injury, Saunders is disappointed to see the duo missing after some impressive performances.

"It is bad news on Joe who went over on his ankle and sprained it," said Saunders today. "Joe will be out for a while, and it is very disappointing with Andy also injured.

"Both are good players with bags of energy, and they play the way I want us to play.

"But we will shuffle the pack. There are no excuses, we have got players to come in."

Swansea City physio Richie Evans told the club's website: "We are waiting to assess Joe when he returns.

"But early indications suggest ankle ligament damage which will keep him out for between two and four weeks."

Saunders, who will check the availability of a number of other players carrying knocks ahead of the cup tie against Unibond League Premier outfit Eastwood, wants replacements to emulate Michael Proctor.

Proctor took over at Mansfield from injured leading scorer Jefferson Louis, ruled out with a hamstring problem, and set up Marc Williams for the winning goal.

"Michael has come in, he is not 100 per cent fit but you need five or six games to be 100 per cent fit," said Saunders.

"But I was delighted with Michael.

"Jeff was out injured and that left an opening for someone else.

"Michael had a hand in the goal and worked very hard.

"That's all I ask, that they go out and give everything, and Michael did."

Several out of favour members of the squad played in yesterday's friendly defeat at Wolves, including Darran Kempson, Nat Brown, Tom Kearney, Shaun Whalley and Connal Murtagh.

Whalley and Simon Brown scored in the 3-2 defeat, while included in the Wolves side was ex-Wrexham midfielder, Jeff Whitley.

And Saunders said some individuals did their chances of a recall no harm.

"We played a few different systems and tried players in different positions," said Saunders. "We were experimenting.

"We did okay and it was a good work out after a tough day on the training ground on Tuesday.

"Some good things have come out of it, and there were some not so good things. But some people did well so they have themselves in the frame.

"We have got two more days training in front of us and I am sure I will pick a team to go out there fighting on Saturday."