SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell admits it is highly likely that the club will have to bring in a new import if Mark Smith is unable to return to action in the near future.

D-man Smith was withdrawn from the Cats’ clash at English Premier League leaders Telford Tigers on January 8 and headed straight to hospital from the game.

Nell has since revealed the Canadian is suffering with a chest complaint and he missed Swindon’s fixtures at home to Peterborough Phantoms and away at Sheffield Steeldogs over the weekend.

The 33-year-old needs to be given medical clearance before he can get back on the ice and Nell hopes that comes sooner rather than later.

However, if Smith – the brother of Wildcats assistant coach Kenton Smith – is ruled out for an extended spell, Swindon will look to bring in a new import as a replacement.

Over the weekend, Nell also revealed that fellow D-man Matt Selby had been ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury himself but the coach does not think the club need to bring any additional British players as cover.

“We are waiting on the doctors, Mark needs to get the all-clear before he can play. Hopefully in the next week or so, we will know where he is at,” said Nell.

“I don’t think we need to bring in cover for Matt. Ben (Nethersell) has come in and is doing really well.

“He started with Oxford in the NIHL and he is doing well. The thing he had with Oxford was good for Ben and it’s worked really well for us.

“Another big positive has been the way the young people have played and if Michael (Stratford) and Adam (Finlinson) continue to work that hard, then they are going to get more opportunities. Opportunities come through hard work and they have taken a step forward.

“I don’t think we will have any replacements British-wise but if Mark is out long term, we will have to look at the market.

“There are always people out there in the import market but we want Mark to be back. Jan (Kostal) played really well in defence at the weekend but we really miss Mark. We want him to get back as soon as possible.”

Smith’s absence is the latest injury problem to strike Swindon down this term, with Nell himself ruled out for the season following shoulder surgery, while youngster Callum Buglass has also seen his campaign ended prematurely.

There was another heart-in-mouth moment for Nell on Sunday night when star forward Tomasz Malasinski took a stick to the face against Sheffield but thankfully there was no lasting damage and the Pole was able to make a swift return to the ice.

Nell added: “Whenever Tomasz goes down I am always a little bit worried. We have had a lot of injuries and I was thinking: ‘Here we go, here is the next one’. Luckily nothing came of it.”