Influential winger Stan Lazaridis could be out of action for up to three weeks because of a hamstring injury picked up at Hillsborough.
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But because Lazaridis immediately signalled to the dugout that he was in trouble with the injury, Blues hope to have caught the problem early.
"Had he tried to carry on he could have done more damage," said manager Steve Bruce. "But, nonetheless, it's a blow for us."
Michael Johnson is also out of Saturday's game at Stockport because of a bad ankle but he hopes to be fit for the New Year's Day game at home to Notts Forest when regular centre-back Darren Purse is suspended.
Bruce has been made aware that Stockport are a bit of a bogey side to Blues on their own soil, County have won the last four meetings between the sides at Edgeley Park.
Bruce said: "Well before I came in we lost to West Brom and I was driving past the area and listening to the car radio.
"It was all doom and gloom back then, we were in crisis. Now if we can get something at Stockport and then beat Forest, the picture will be entirely different.
"It's fair to say we can get better but I have been delighted with the response from all the players since I took the job.
"They have a great appetite for work - even when we had them in on Christmas Day."
