TOM White could be missing for two months at Wanderers – and Ian Evatt remains upset with the circumstances that led to his injury.

Former Bolton midfielder Josh Vela was cautioned for a poor challenge on Blackburn Rovers loanee White just before half-time in Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy game at Shrewsbury.

White faces a scan with results expected tomorrow (Friday) but medical staff at Wanderers are already predicting a minimum eight-week lay-off.

But Evatt claims referee Ross Joyce’s failure to curb Vela’s persistent fouling led to the challenge which now leaves him searching for a replacement in the transfer market.

“I was very frustrated with it all – and still am,” he said. “Vela made a few really reckless tackles before it that the referee let slide because they are early in the game. But the fourth reckless tackle, which he would not have made had he been on a yellow card, was the one that injured Tom.

“Now it looks as though Tom has an ankle sprain and some ligament damage, the extent we don’t know yet but it doesn’t look good. I would think he is looking at least a couple of months out on the side-line.

“I know it’s Vela’s game – but the referee has to manage it and give our players protection. He just didn’t do that. One of my players ended up injured because of it and I wasn’t happy at all.”