Inigo Calderon isn’t expecting to have Chris Martin back available for Bristol Rovers‘ home game against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow night but is hopeful that the striker will return swiftly after missing Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town with a slight knee issue.
The Gas are severely struggling with forward options going into Tuesday night with Gatlin O’Donkor seemingly still not cleared to return to the matchday squad, despite being close to a return, while there are fears that Promise Omochere’s season is over after the striker was forced off with another hamstring problem just six minutes into the Huddersfield win.
Shaq Forde is expected to return, however, after missing four games through suspension having collected his second red card of the season in the 2-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers last month. Meanwhile, Ruel Sotiriou is in good form after scoring his fourth goal in six home matches over the weekend.
On Martin’s absence, Calderon explained: “It’s just a small thing in the knee but probably, I cannot say that he’s going to be [ready] for Tuesday. But he’s not going to be too far.”
Elsewhere, Grant Ward was also absent against Huddersfield having felt something in the build up to the game after being withdrawn at half-time of last Tuesday’s goalless draw at Shrewsbury Town.
The midfielder missed trips to Wycombe and Northampton Town before making his return against Rotherham United but against the Millers and Salop, Ward wasn’t near his best.
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Rovers already have Kamil Conteh and Romaine Sawyers still sidelined while Jamie Lindsay has majorly struggled for game time under Calderon.
Taylor Moore was brought into central midfield as Sotiriou replaced Omochere up front on Saturday but the hope is that Ward’s absence will also be brief.
“It was the problem he had before,” the Gas head coach confirmed on the midfielder. “He was not feeling right and the other day he was not feeling right in the game, that’s why he was substituted and yesterday (Friday) he was not feeling great.
“So at the moment we need everybody to be fully, fully, fully, fully fit and he was not the case.
“So it’s nothing wrong. Hopefully, as I say, it’s going to be a couple of days. But that’s the problem. We have that may games, it’s just too much. But that’s the way it is. We cannot put excuses and cry because that’s not the way I do it.”