The club also provided a somber update on teenage prospect Jesse Derry, whose full Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest was cut short by a frightening head injury. Derry was stretchered off and taken to hospital after a clash with Zach Abbott, and while the early medical signs are encouraging, he will not take any further part in the current campaign.
McFarlane offered an update on the youngster's condition: “I spoke to Jesse's dad [Shaun Derry] the night it happened and the family yesterday. It's positive. I don't have the insights to go into massive details but the early signs are positive. As long as he's healthy, that's all that really matters. He's not going to be available between now and the end of the season.”