Simon hopes to get players back quickly

Wednesday sees Steelers travel to Nottingham before welcoming their arch-rivals to South Yorkshire for a return match in the same competition on Friday.

They then face a long weekend in Scotland with a double header against the Edinburgh Capitals and such a hectic schedule of four games in five days could not have come at a worst time for Simon's injury-riddled line-up.

Already missing British pair Jonathan Phillips (knee) and Mark Thomas (ankle), as well as forward Rob Globke (concussion), Steelers were left further short-handed for Sunday's trip to Cardiff when defenceman Jerramie Domish injured his ankle in Saturday's 4-1 Cup win over Coventry Blaze.

After Sunday night's 5-3 league reverse in South Wales - in which high-scoring centre Jeff Legue was converted to a defenceman (and still scored a goal), Simon admitted his depleted line-up had left themselves with too much to do after going 4-0 down.

Goals from Ashley Tait, a first for new signing Tom Squires and Legue ensured the Devils remained nervous until Jon Pelle struck with a late powerplay goal to secure both points for the home side.

Simon said he would hopefully have both Globke and Domish back in the line-up for Wednesday night's trip to the National Ice Centre.

He added: "Jono (Phillips) will need surgery and is defintely out long-term. If there is a player out there that will make our team better I will try my hardest to bring him here.

"We're hoping to have Rob (Globke) and Jerramie back on Wednesday and we have looked at a few options - two-way deals for other British players is one of those options.

"But the problem with a two-way deal is that their parent club would always take precedence and they all play at weekends like ourselves.

"So that means any cover we bring in is likely only to be possible for midweek games."