ANDONI Iraola confirmed Max Aarons will be ruled out of action for “some time” after suffering another hamstring injury.

The right-back, only recently returned from a similar complaint on his opposite leg, hobbled off towards the end of Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

And Iraola confirmed the former Norwich City man will not be available for the forthcoming fixtures.

He joins fellow right-backs Adam Smith and Ryan Fredericks also on the sidelines.

There was however some potential good news, with Milos Kerkez closing in on a return to action having missed more than six weeks of action with an ankle injury.

Asked for the latest team news ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup clash with Swansea City (7.45pm), head coach Iraola revealed: “It is especially the full-back department (injured) I would say.

“Apart from Tyler (Adams), it is all full-backs.

“Max is obviously out. He has a muscle injury. He will be out for some time.

“I don’t know how long it will take, but you have a lot of references with these kind of hamstring injuries.

“I don’t want to say an exact date.

“We will not recover Adam. So we will be thin.

“He is not with the group. He is not ready.

“He hasn’t done anything with the group and we have to follow his progress.

“Whenever he feels ready, he will be with the group, but it is not now.

“The only one I think will try to train today and, knowing him also I think he will be in the squad, is Milos.

“Milos is really close. He is the only one with chances to get involved. The rest I think will continue the same.”

Kerkez last featured in the 3-0 victory at Manchester United in December.

Discussing his return to fitness, Iraola said: “It is good news. He will train today.

“He did some things with the group yesterday.

“With Milos, he is young, energetic and I know he will push.

“If he has a chance, he will try to take it.

“I hope he has good sensations today. He has been out for some weeks.

“I don’t know what his fitness level will be, because it is not the same training alone and being part of the group. But I think at least we can use him if needed.”

Another player who could return to the squad sooner than expected is Antoine Semenyo.

Having picked up just two points from their three group fixtures, Ghana have been eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Semenyo is currently travelling home from the tournament in Ivory Coast, and has a slim chance of featuring against the Swans.

“It is obviously bad news for him, because they wanted to go to the next round and they had a very good team,” said Iraola.

“But they have been eliminated and he is travelling right now.

“He will arrive I think tomorrow morning. So it is going to be difficult for him, but I will try and talk to him and maybe he can be on the bench.

“But it is going to be difficult, because he is going to spend the night travelling. When this happens, normally you don’t rest well.”

Semenyo started all three matches for Ghana in the tournament.

“At least we know that he hasn’t lost the form,” said Iraola, when asked if it was a good thing Semenyo has played in every game.

“He has for sure been demanded physically and mentally, because these kind of tournaments, there are a lot of things going on, a lot of tension I’m sure.

“They all wanted to do well.

“But this has finished for him and now he has to focus again and try to help the team the way he was doing before the Africa Cup of Nations.

“It is difficult for tomorrow, but I am sure he will be ready for the next games.”