Inigo Calderon has revealed that Bristol Rovers will try to bring in players this month but admitted that it’s something he’s “not so obsessed about.”
The Spaniard oversaw his first win as Rovers head coach at a third attempt on Saturday as the Gas secured a significant 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Cambridge United thanks to a Luke Thomas’ first goal of the season in the first half.
After a hectic summer of recruitment that saw Rovers bring in 16 players, it is unlikely that there will be another significant squad overhaul this window as the Gas look to open an even wider gap between them and the relegation zone which currently stands at five points.
However, two of those players have already left in loanees Jake Garrett and Michael Forbes who returned to their parent clubs Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United last week.
Asked if there was any recruitment that is likely to happen soon, Calderon confessed: “Yeah. Always in January you’re trying to bring players [in] but I’m not so obsessed about that. I’m really happy with the players we have.
“If something comes good, it has to be better than the ones that we have. But I’m really happy with the boys. As I say, I think we recovered a lot of players that were not too much involved before, mentally especially, and I think that’s important for the group.”
Bristol Live understands that Rovers are targeting bringing in both a central midfielder and a center-back, the positions of the recalled loanees, but they are also likely to seek a striker given Promise Omochere’s recent hamstring injury.
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The Irishman, whom the Gas paid a club-record fee of around £500,000 to Fleetwood Town for in the summer, is unlikely to play again before April which puts significant pressure on Rovers’ other forwards and the club’s recruitment team to add another source of goals.
Goals have already been at a limited quantity this season with Omochere’s four making him the Gas’ top scorer while Chris Martin, Shaq Forde and Scott Sinclair have two league goals to their names so far this season as well as midfielders Luke McCormick and Jamie Lindsay.
Calderon has had limited time to assess the squad he has inherited after being confirmed as Matt Taylor’s successor on Boxing Day and starting work the following day. Since his arrival, the Spaniard has already taken charge of three league matches which has allowed limited time on the training pitch.
This week will be the first clear week the 43-year-old has had to work with his players on the grass ahead of travelling to Premier League side Ipswich Town in the FA Cup third round on Sunday with their next league game not until January 18 when they host Barnsley.