 CHRIS HUGHTON today admitted he could be forced to make another dip into the loan market after losing Mike Williamson for a month. Williamson has sustained a freak injury, breaking his hand while exercising at home, leaving Hughton to assess his options for the final 11 games of the season. A dead leg for Fabricio Coloccini at Middlesbrough highlighted United’s lack of defensive options, with Fitz Hall and Hungarian teenager Tamas Kadar ending the game in the heart of defence. United know that Steven Taylor will not be back for up to another month because of a knee injury, and youngsters such as Ben Tozer and James Tavernier are still considered too raw to be thrown into the mix during the Championship run-in. And even though Coloccini could be back against Scunthorpe on Wednesday night, Williamson’s loss still means United lack cover at centre-back. Hughton turned down the option of signing ex-Toon defender and derby cult hero Andy O’Brien earlier in the season, but the Republic of Ireland international remains on his list of options. O’Brien came in from the cold for Bolton in their 4-0 win over Wigan but would jump at the chance of both regular first-team action and a return to St James’ Park. Hughton has until March 25 to make any further emergency loan additions and said today: “It’s one I need to think about. “Losing Mike is a big blow, because he’s going to be out for that period of time. “Steven Taylor’s still the same period of time away from being fit. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do over the next day or so. “I’ve got to think about what we’ve got, and whether we can cope with what we’ve got. “Probably more importantly I’ve got to assess Colo and how he’s going to be.” | 
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