MK Dons boss Paul Warne says he is "not crying" over an injury crisis to his attacking options as they push for promotion back to League One.
Aaron Collins and Callum Paterson have been ruled out for a period of time after picking up ankle injuries in Saturday's 1-0 win over Newport County. They join fellow summer signing Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the sidelines.
"When I first came in I harped on about the front line, and then to have three of my signings out at the same time, it is a blow, but I'm not crying about it," Warne told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"It's always 'next man up'. We're blessed with the front department we have, but you do miss a focal point when you're kicking out and you don't have the same aerial dominance as you have with Paterson."
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Paterson, 31, has scored 14 goals this season, including six in four games.
In Paterson, Collins and Mendez-Laing, they have lost three players who have netted 28 goals this season in all competitions.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy began up front in Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Crawley, with 33-year-old former Aston Villa forward Scott Hogan replacing him after 73 minutes.
"We've lost a lot of the goal output from our team, but I thought Rush (Hepburn-Murphy) did well to lead the line," Warne added.
"I was really impressed with him, and I was impressed with Scotty (Scott Hogan) when he came on. He's trained really well in recent weeks. They're going to have to lead the line with assistance from Lex (winger Jonathan Leko)."
Tuesday's point against Crawley was still enough to take them up a place to fourth, just two points off the automatic promotion spots with 14 matches to play.
Warne is choosing to see the positives of the draw, and their place in the division heading towards March.
"I'm a bit of a fatalist. If it wasn't meant to be, then it wasn't meant to be. We'll just pick the bones out of it, and look forward to the next 14 games," he added.
"The next thing you know you're into single figures, and then it really separates the men from the boys.
"I've got a really good dressing room of winners, and I'm looking forward to working with them on Thursday."
MK Dons next face a trip to fellow promotion-chasers Walsall on Monday.