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Cardiff City striker Rickie Lambert is unlikely to face Wigan Athletic on Saturday after suffering an "horrific" leg injury against Nottingham Forest.

Lambert, 34, was carried off on a stretcher during the first half at The City Ground after a collision with Forest keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

He was taken to hospital in Nottingham and required a number of stitches.

"I don't know how cuts heal but it looked horrific," said Cardiff manager Neil Warnock.

"I had to get one or two of the lads out - I didn't want them looking at it at half-time in a game like that.

"The cut is that deep they're just worried about whether there's any ligament damage because it's severed right through to his shin. It's terrible."

Lambert joined Cardiff from West Brom in August and has scored two goals in nine appearances.

Cardiff have not lost under new manager Neil Warnock, picking up seven points from a possible nine since he took over from Paul Trollope on 5 October.

That run has lifted the Bluebirds to 20th in the Championship, having been bottom when Warnock arrived.