Leon Britton hopes that fellow midfield stars Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde return soon to boost Swansea City.
Pratley (shoulder) and Bodde (knee) are key performers in the Swansea engine room when fit but might not return to playing until September.
"I think, to be fair, any team in this Championship would miss those two players," said Britton after Saturday's 3-0 home loss to Middlesbrough.
"We know the quality they bring to the team and the squad."
Bodde is still rehabilitating from the knee problem he suffered last November, an injury that ended his participation that season, although he has returned to training at the Liberty Stadium.
His central midfield partner Pratley's shoulder problems started with a dislocation at the end of the 2007 season and struck again in January 2009.
Minor surgery allowed the former Fulham player to return in five weeks, but another operation was required in July and Pratley was expected to miss the first five weeks of this season.
"Obviously we'd love to have them back tomorrow if we could but they've both got their own injury situation, they've got to make sure they get that right," Britton said.
Having lost their Championship opener 2-1 at Leicester City last weekend, Swansea slumped at home to former Premier League side Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Goals from Adam Johnson, Marvin Emnes and Tuncay saw Boro emerge with all three points from a Liberty Stadium where Swansea lost just three times last season under former manager Roberto Martinez.
"We had some chances as well but their finishing was very good," Britton admitted.
"We always knew it was going to be a tough game, but we said before that if we play well and we keep our standards up then we can compete with these teams - but we didn't really do that.
De Vries ready for coming tests
"We had a few injuries before the game but... we have got quality in depth in the squad and when someone's out injured it's a chance for someone else to come in.
"Obviously the lads who have come in will be disappointed with the result but we've got to make sure we all keep our heads up and we all go again on Tuesday against Reading.
"Obviously we're low at the moment but we'll pick ourselves up... we've got to wipe our memory clean and go into Tuesday in high spirits and confident that we can get a win."
New Swans boss Paulo Sousa got a first win at his new club under his belt in the midweek Carling Cup game against Brighton.
But the pressure is still on to get that first league win, although Reading will arrive at the Liberty on Tuesday night with no great confidence following their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle.
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