Liam Gibbs is set for scans on a hamstring injury that could rule him out until after next month’s latest international break.

The 21-year-old midfielder saw last season curtailed by a quad injury in April, and City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup confirmed after the 4-1 Championship win over Watford Gibbs was absent from his matchday squad through injury.

“He did it (on Friday) towards the end of the session. Really, really unfortunate,” said the Dane. “It seems like it's a muscle injury. We have to scan him, and we have to wait and see, but it can be a situation where it's more than just a couple of weeks out.”

Thorup also confirmed Onel Hernandez came off with a suspected hamstring issue seven minutes into his late cameo appearance from the bench on Saturday.

“He felt something and with where we sensed the game was, it was about who will score that next goal, we didn’t feel it would be good for us to have a player on the pitch you could see was struggling,” said Thorup. “You could see that he would not be able to accelerate to full power.

"But I spoke to him after and I think it seems like we picked it up early, so it's nothing too serious, but there was definitely something. And I think, again, like some of the other cases, we decided to go with low risk.”

Thorup delivered a more positive update on Anis Ben Slimane, who has missed the last two league games with a muscular injury. The Tunisian international trained on Saturday and is pencilled in as an option for the next Championship trip to Derby.

“He had a good session at the training ground. And the plan is that he will be with the team, either Monday or Tuesday, and hopefully also ready to push for a starting position for the game in Derby,” said the City boss. “That's the plans for now. Of course, that can change, but that's the plan so far. And what I heard from the physios is that he had a good day, so we can be positive.”

City are stepping up the club’s search for a first team coach and goalkeeper coach prior to Derby, following the recent Stoke exits of Narcis Pelach and Paul Clements, but Thorup hailed the impact of Joe Shulberg and Declan Rudd who stepped up for the Hornets’ visit.

“What we have at the moment is a very good connection to the academy. We have great support, and it is support from guys who have been around the team from day one, who supported in pre-season and have supported in the season so far,” he said. “There's no rush. Like I said, we knew that Narcis had this ambition so it also means that we have names on paper but it's for us to find that best candidate, and not for us to rush it through.

"I'm more than pleased with the two guys supporting the backroom staff, because they did well. It also means that we can take the time that we need to find the best possible replacements.”