Bristol are facing an injury crisis ahead of their crucial Guinness Premiership clash with Northampton after losing three key men at the weekend.

Not only did Bristol let a 13-point lead slip before going down 24-22 to Saracens in the EDF Energy Cup, they also lost hooker Mark Regan (knee), lock Nathan Budgett (dislocated fibula) and centre Neil Brew (hamstring) to injury.

All three players – who run the Bristol scrum, line-out and defence, respectively – look certain to miss Northampton's visit to the Memorial Stadium on November 16.

Bristol were already without full-back Luke Arscott, back row duo Iain Grieve and Alfie To'oala and fly-half Ed Barnes, while centre Junior Fatialofa faces up to two months out after suffering a knee injury in training.

Head coach Richard Hill admitted Saturday's defeat had been costly for many more reasons than simply the result.

"Things just aren't going for us at the moment," said Hill.

"In three key areas of the game – scrum, line-out and defence – we have lost three personnel, all of whom are probably going to be unavailable for Northampton. That has not helped the matter and I am not particularly happy at this moment in time.

"Those are the three players we could have most done without losing through injury. This was not a good day for us."

Hill revealed that Regan had felt his "kneecap pop out and go back in", while Budgett faces a lengthy lay-off.

"Budgett is going to be a while – the bone was sticking out," said Hill. "Brew's hamstring could be four to six weeks."

The head coach was critical of his team's dismal performance.

"The 15 who start against Northampton are going to have to really dig in and produce one hell of a performance for us, which I know they will," he said.