Monaghan’s injury problems have deepened after Ryan McAnespie tweaked his hamstring in last Saturday night’s Allianz Football League Division 1 loss to Dublin.

The injury is expected to rule McAnespie out of the Farney County’s must-win game against Mayo in Clones on Sunday after defeats to Armagh, Roscommon and Dublin in the first three rounds. Monaghan were already without Conor McCarthy, Dylan Byrne, Killian Lavelle, Jack McCarron, Ciarán McNulty, Michael Hamill and David Garland against the Dubs.

“It’s very frustrating. I brought 16 new players into the panel this year – it looks like we’re going to use them all,” Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan told reporters at Croke Park.

“The reality is that any team in the country would find that challenging and difficult.”

On the plus side, Bannigan hailed the impact of rookies Cameron Dowd, Oisín McGorman, Liam McDonald, Eddie Walsh and Fionán Carolan, who replaced the injured McAnespie.

“We’re having to go deep at the moment. But they’re good lads and they’re making progress,” he added.

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