WORCESTER Wolves have been forced to draft in university students to make up the numbers after being decimated by injuries and international call-ups.

George Beamon has joined Dallin Bachynski on the sidelines with an ankle issue and is likely to miss tomorrow’s British Basketball League clash with Plymouth Raiders at the University of Worcester Arena (7.30pm).

But Worcester will also be without Elvisi Dusha and Michael Ojo who have been called up to represent Albania and Nigeria respectively.

To add to head coach Paul James’ selection problems, Rob Gilchrist has been named in the Great Britain squad to take on Israel tomorrow and Greece on Sunday in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

It has left Wolves with just three fit senior players in captain Alex Navajas, Trayvon Palmer and Brandon Parrish at their disposal to face Plymouth.

And James admitted he would now have to call upon Dominic Ives, George Emms, Zach Noble, Demi Ogunbona and Matthew Williamson.

The quintet play for Wolves’ second string side in National League Division Three while studying at the University of Worcester.

“Dallin is still unavailable and George is likely to be missing as well,” said James whose side suffered back-to-back defeats to Glasgow Rocks and Bristol Flyers last weekend.

“Their injuries hurt us even more because we are going through an international period.

“We always knew Michael and Elvisi were going to be away for this game but then Rob gets called up at the last minute for GB so effectively we are down to three fit senior players for tomorrow’s game.

“Never in my coaching career have I experienced this type of depletion to a team.

“It is going to be a massive challenge for us as a club but it is a chance for those young boys to go out there and experience a BBL game.”

Bachynski has not featured for Wolves since the BBL Cup final in late January and James said the 7ft centre was still experiencing pain in his right foot.

“Dallin is getting the treatment he requires,” James said.

“The physios are working with him as hard as they can to try to get rid of the pain which is still there and we are looking to get him on the floor as soon as possible.

“The scan showed everything to be clear so it was just a bit of a knock to the sheet which the Achilles tendon sits in and that needs to be dealt with.”

Dusha, Ojo and Gilchrist will return to the club next Tuesday and James was also hopeful Beamon would be fit to face Newcastle Eagles a week on Friday.

“George sprained his ankle pretty badly in the game against Glasgow so I don’t expect he will be able to play any part in the game tomorrow,” James added.

“Hopefully he will be ready next week when we go up to Newcastle.”