Nigel Adkins is pondering his defensive injury problems

Scunthorpe United boss Nigel Adkins is trying to find a central defender before the start of the new season.

Player-coach Andy Crosby and Joe Wilcox will both miss the start of the season with identical knee injuries and are undergoing treatment.

Iron manager Nigel Adkins told BBC Radio Humberside: "Maybe my hand's being forced to get another centre-half in the building."

United take on Leeds United at home in the League One opener on 9 August.

Wilcox, who was seen as the natural replacement for Crosby, has undergone a course of "dry needling" treatment in an attempt to clear the problem up but will need time before he will be fit to play.

Meanwhile, Adkins is also keen to sign a midfield player before the season opener against the strongly-fancied Leeds side at Glanford Park.

The United boss added: "That's my intention before we play Leeds from a midfield point of view."