Inigo Calderon has admitted he is still unsure how long Kamil Conteh will be sidelined for after the midfielder missed a second game in a row on New Year’s Day.
The 22-year-old missed Calderon’s opening game in charge of Bristol Rovers against Stevenage last Sunday with what was deemed a knock but wasn’t able to recover in time to be involved in the 3-2 defeat to Leyton Orient on New Year’s Day.
Although there is still no timescale on how long Rovers can expect to be without the midfielder, it appears likely that Conteh will also miss Saturday’s trip to Cambridge United.
The game against the U’s is of utmost importance considering both teams’ respective positions at the bottom end of the league table. Cambridge are currently second-bottom and five points from saftey while the Gas are hovering dangerously close above the dotted line with just two points and one place keeping them out of the relegation zone.
Speaking about Conteh’s absence after the loss to Orient, Calderon admitted: “No, that’s another one that we don’t know. No excuses. We tried to find a solution. Wardy was there. I think Wardy was great today.
“I would like to have all the players but we know that with many games that can happen, that’s why we need the whole squad.”
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Elsewhere in midfield, Jamie Lindsay is expected to return from suspension having missed the Leyton Orient game after being sent off for two yellow cards against Stevenage. Meanwhile, Jake Garrett’s future at the club is in doubt with the Blackburn Rovers loanee missing from the matchday squad once again on New Year’s Day.
The Gas will also have to play the waiting game with Promise Omochere after the striker had to be withdrawn after just 20 minutes against Orient. The striker had only made his return from a previous setback two weeks prior, scoring in back-to-back matches against Wrexham and Exeter City.
However, it seems extremely likely that the Irishman will also miss the Cambridge trip at the very least with Calderon stating: “Probably it was too much for him playing that many games. We knew that was a risk because he played the last trip from the start and we have to check how that is. Hopefully it’s not too much. Hopefully we take him in the right time, but probably it’s gonna be too soon for Saturday.
“That’s the problem. We have that many games but you have to take it. As I say, I love football. I love the games. I love games in Christmas but always it’s a risk. It’s not a problem.”
There also hasn’t yet been confirmation on how long Michael Forbes can expect to be on the sidelines for after picking up a hamstring injury against Wrexham just before Christmas. However, it appears unlikely that, given the type of injury, the West Ham loanee will feature this month.
One player who could feature this month though is Jack Hunt with the right-back back on the grass, although the trip to Cambridge appears too early still for the 34-year-old.