Bristol Rovers' Steve Elliott is facing a spell on the sidelines, but Byron Anthony is back in contnetion.
Defender facing six weeks out, but others are returning from injury
Bristol Rovers defender Steve Elliott is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but Byron Anthony is back in contention after recovering from injury.
Elliott sustained medial ligament damage in the FA Cup third round replay with Fulham on Wednesday and is now facing around six weeks out of the side.
He has missed just one game in League One for the Pirates this season and boss Paul Trollope admits that his presence will be missed.
Purpose of squads
"Steve's leg is currently in a brace to protect it," he told the club's official website.
"He's going to be out for a good few weeks, four to six, and that's a blow for us.
"He's been fantastic for us the last couple of years and he will be missed, but that's why we've got a squad.
"With Byron (Anthony) coming back and Danny (Coles) and Craig (Hinton) currently wearing the shirts it's not an emergency, although obviously we'd prefer it if we had everyone fit."
Back in contention
The return of Anthony could see the defender pushing for a first-team place after being frustrated by recent reserve fixture postponements which have hindered his rehabilitation.
"Byron is very close now," Trollope said.
"He's been training for three weeks, and it's been frustrating for him with the lack of reserve games.
"It's important he gets some matches under his belt, but he's a naturally fit lad which will help him.
"He was out for a long while last season and he coped very well when coming back, and he'll be in the squad this weekend (for the trip to Barnet) and may even figure on the bench."
Waiting game
Another player recently back from injury who is itching to get back into the side is Lewis Haldane, but Trollope has told the striker that he will have to wait his turn after others have come in and performed well.
"Lewis is hugely frustrated at the moment, because he was a regular starter before he got injured," said the Pirates boss.
"But other people have done well in that position, and that is what we want.
"We want a pool of players to choose from, and it's up to Lewis and others to react in the right way, because everyone here is important and everyone will get their chance at some point."
