lua error: Attempt to index... please help

[Jenay]

error: attempt to index global 'player' (a nil value)

function DealPlayersHand()
	for j=1,92 do
		card_inuse[j] = false
	end --end for
	
	for i=1,4 do
		player[i] = math.random(1,92) -- <  THIS LINE
		while card_inuse[player[i]] do
			TryCard = math.random(1,92)
		end --end while
		card_inuse[player[i]] = true 
	end -- end for
	
end --DealPlayersHand

[Jenay]

oops forget to define:
player = {}

as soon as I did that it took right off.