GARY Megson has described Gretar Steinsson and Jlloyd Samuel as “unlucky” casualties of his summer defensive re-shuffle.

The full-back pair were virtually ever-present for Wanderers last season but many fans have been surprised to see them slip out of favour in recent weeks.

Both were dropped for the final pre-season friendly against Hibs, and while Steinsson pulled out of Saturday’s defeat against Sunderland with a virus, Samuel had to be content with a place on the bench.

Sam Ricketts and Paul Robinson, recruited at a combined cost of £4million over the summer, got the nod in the Whites disappointing show against the Black Cats and look set to keep their place for this weekend’s trip to Hull.

And Megson reckons their arrival will shore up a back four that proved too generous last season.

“Jlloyd and Gretar played consistently last year but we had a back four that let 54 goals in — which is too many,” he said.

“That back four also kept only seven clean sheets — which is not enough.

“We had no cover at left-back, no challenger for a place, so when Sam Ricketts and Paul Robinson became available we took them.”

But the Whites boss added that he expects both players to show the right attitude in trying to recapture their first team place.

“Anybody who is not starting a game will be viewed as unlucky by me because they all work hard, they all train hard, and they all want to do well individually and for the club they play for,” Megson said. “As people, I have got no complaints about any of them.”

Steinsson looks unlikely to recover in time for this weekend’s trip to Hull, where Megson will also be without Ricardo Gardner (hamstring).