Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor gave his insight on what players might be available come Tuesday for their visit to Fleetwood.
Grant Ward has been injured since the start of the new year and was a key component in The Gas midfield. Speaking back in January, Ward said “I fear it will be weeks and not days and he will be sorely missed”. Those weeks, unfortunately, turned into two months, and “he might affect it from a bench capacity in the next couple of games” suggesting that he still isn’t fully fit.
A player getting injured is always a disheartening moment for any side and depending on the seriousness of the injury it can have an everlasting effect. Speaking on this, Taylor said, “There will be a few nerves there because obviously the severity of the previous injury so he might well affect it.”
Nottingham Forest loan player Brandon Aguilera will also be back in contention for the side after his last game was back on the 10th of February which resulted in a 2-1 loss to Burton Albion. He then went back to his parent club for rehab on his hamstring injury. Aguilera will miss tomorrow night’s game against Fleetwood, but Taylor has said “he will come back to the squad Thursday, so night make the bench Saturday.”
The Costa Rican midfielder has scored one goal with the club so far and it went viral on socials for the excellent strike that it was.
“Players are coming back but we have to take into account the timing they’ve missed and the training they’ve missed and we’re looking forward to a stronger group,” said Taylor as he mentioned more names who were on the verge of coming back.
Sam Finley who had been injured for over a month made his first start since January on Saturday which resulted in a 3-0 loss to Derby but had won the previous two against Carlisle and Leyton Orient. However, The Gas manager described it to be “important that Sam Finley got through the mix today.” He also included Connor Taylor in that as well after they both got injured in the same game and came back in the same game.
Taylor also described Luca Hoole as “getting through the mix to some extent” as well after he was injured over the Christmas period and has been in and out of the squad ever since.
Rovers travel to Fleetwood tomorrow who are a struggling side at the moment and remain seven points off of safety with one win in their last five.
Taylor’s side have won three out of their last five away games so they will look to make it four out of six.
Rovers remain 15 points above the drop zone but also remain 12 points off of playoffs so it would take either a miracle to playoffs or a disaster for relegation.
