Bristol Rovers are nearing a clean bill of health ahead of their home game against Wrexham on Saturday afternoon with just two players ruled out through injury.
The Gas will be under the interim charge of first-team coach Dave Horseman against the promotion contenders but hope that the 40-year-old will only have to lead one game as they close in on a new manager or head coach.
Rovers have the benefit of having another striker back amongst their ranks in Promise Omochere after the Irishman made his return from injury off the bench at Birmingham City last weekend while Lino Sousa and Jack Hunt remain ruled out. However, there is hope that the former could be back in contention soon.
Discussing injury news ahead of this weekend’s game, Horseman said: “Yeah, really good. I mean, this is scary. We’ve got 92 per cent availability which is well above league average. I mean, just for context, I had 72 per cent at Forest Green. So that’s a huge swing. Now, obviously then depending on who’s actually injured in that, that can make a big difference.
“Lino’s closer but not ready for this weekend and everybody else is as it was. Promise got his first 25, 30 minutes on Saturday so 45 to 60 would be something that probably would be realistic for him without wanting to push too quick and break down, particularly with a new manager coming in. He’s going to want them fit. So we don’t need to go and break a couple before the new person comes in.
“Other than that, the boys are fit, healthy and there’ll be three not even in the squad this weekend. So it’s a nice problem to have.”
Bristol Rovers Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol Rovers Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Rovers stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol Rovers Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Omochere has scored just two goals in blue-and-white quarters since his club-record move from Fleetwood Town in the summer, both of which coming in a 2-0 win over Cambridge United in August. However, the 24-year-old has demonstrated his qualities in bursts and will be looking for more consistency with his talent and potential evident.
Although the Irishman is unlikely to start this weekend, his return from a broken hand, which followed an ankle issue, comes at the perfect time with Rovers set to play five games within 15 days.
“Promise is a really good kid and big player. He gives you power and pace and he could get down the side and actually he’s come back and his enthusiasm…well he’s moving freer now.
“So what Prox (Andrew Proctor) and stuff have done is he’s looking physically better. So in the next couple of weeks, I’m hoping, especially with the change of manager, you’ll end up seeing the best of him now because I don’t think we have yet. I think he would say it. But he’s going to be a really good player for this football club and to see him moving around the pitch without his ankle pinching a little bit, you can see a clear difference.
“So this weekend he’ll get some minutes. Hopefully build up to the point where, I don’t know, two weeks time, he’s ready for 90 minutes, week in, week out.”