DEFENDER Adam Hinshelwood has been ruled out for the next four matches – and Wanderers are now hunting a loan replacement.

A scan on Monday revealed bone bruising to the injury-jinxed centre half’s knee.

The former England U21 centre half has been a revelation since signing on a free transfer from Aldershot at the start of the month.

Blues were only able to pick him up for nothing because of his history of knee trouble.

And the gamble had been paying off big time with Hinshelwood starring at the back and helping Blues to tighten up what had been a leaking defence.

But he felt his knee flare up in the 1-1 draw at Southend United on January 23 and had been playing through the pain barrier since.

But he was forced to concede defeat just after half time during Saturday’s match with Yeovil.

He went off with the scores locked at 1-1 and without him, Wycombe conceded three goals in the remaining 39 minutes to underline just how important he has been to Blues.

Hinshelwood said: “It was really difficult to come off but I knew I had to.

“I knew I was trying to be a hero by staying out there and that it would be in the best interests of the team if I came off.

“I was in pain and I wasn’t mobile. I tried to play through it but I knew I had to come off.”

Manager Gary Waddock admitted losing his no-nonsense defender is a massive blow but he says it was always on the cards that the 26-year-old’s knee problems would resurface.

He said: “It was always a risk, that’s why we were able to get him in the first place.

“But he’s a risk worth taking because everyone can see his contribution since he’s been here. Hinsh has done really well and we are going to miss him.”

Hinshelwood’s replacement on Saturday, Luke Oliver, was given a savage introduction as he came on in his place on Saturday.

The Blues conceded three goals in the first 12 minutes that Oliver was on the pitch as Blues fell apart.

Waddock said: “Luke had a really tough time when he came on. It’s difficult to come on at a time like that and his confidence will have taken a battering from that, but it would be unfair to just blame him.”

Oliver, who was one of the club’s brightest lights earlier in the season, may well get the chance to bounce straight back at Brentford tomorrow because Waddock off-loaded Michael Duberry last week leaving Leon Johnson as the club’s only other senior centre half.

Waddock says he is not ready to chuck Johnson back into the fray.

The centre half has managed just 45 minutes of reserve action since his hip operation and won’t be risked before he is ready.

Waddock admitted he is hunting a loan replacement but he conceded he is unlikely to get anything done before tomorrow.

He said: “It’s not been for the want of looking. We’ve made inroads into one or two three or four people because it is such an important position.

“But it doesn’t happen overnight and I would say we would be more likely next week.”

And he has called on his whole squad to make up for the loss of Hinshelwood.

He said: “We need the whole group to respond to his absence and show the same determination he shows.”

Hinshelwood will miss the matches against Brentford, Millwall, Southampton and Stockport County with Blues keeping their fingers crossed that he may be fit to return against Carlisle United at the start of next month.