Tranmere Rovers have further injury concerns going into Saturday’s home fixture against Shrewsbury Town.
An already long list of players unavailable for Rovers boss Micky Mellon could be added to with another player declared as doubtful in the manager’s pre-match press conference, Sid Nelson struggling with an ankle knock.
Defensively, that would leave Tranmere very short on numbers, with a number of players already ruled out. If Nelson doesn’t make it, there would only be one recognised centre-back available for Micky Mellon to select, so we’ll be hoping that the former Millwall man can return to fitness in time for the game.
The game, against the club which Micky managed between 2014 and 2016, is another important one as Rovers currently lie perilously close to the drop zone in the League One standings.
20th position is just one place above the relegation places, although Tranmere are five points clear of 21st place Southend United.
Home form was always going to be key for Rovers this season, and it’s where eight of the nine points collected thus far have been earned.
The injury problems certainly aren’t helping the cause, and it’s testing the depth of the squad, coming into a busy period with some really big games ahead of us in October.
As we begin our build up to the weekend’s game, here’s a look at all the fitness worries facing Micky Mellon.
SID NELSON
Sid Nelson is the latest player to find himself in the treatment room. Suffering with an ankle problem, the central defender is a doubt for Saturday’s game against Shrewsbury Town. His absence would mean a shortage of centre-backs which would be a big concern ahead of an important fixture.
CALUM WOODS
The versatile defender picked up a calf injury in the 3-0 defeat at Oxford United last month. Woods has missed the past few games and will remain absent for a few more weeks yet.
KANE WILSON
The young full-back, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, picked up a knee ligament injury in training ahead of the Rotherham United game. He’ll be missing for a few more weeks, although the diagnosis was that the injury was not as bad as first feared.
MARK ELLIS
Ellis sustained a knee injury towards the back end of last season and remains absent. It’s likely to be some time yet until we next see the experienced defender in a Rovers shirt on the pitch.
EVAN GUMBS
Another who picked up a serious knee injury at the end of last term, the young defender is unlikely to be available for selection until the new year at the earliest.
GEORGE RAY
The former Crewe central defender was replaced at half time last weekend as Rovers defeated Burton Albion and missed last week’s game away at Ipswich Town. He’s been ruled out of this week’s game too, but hopefully he’ll be ready to return for the trip to Coventry City in the following league fixture.
DAVID PERKINS
The veteran midfielder has been highly influential in the heart of the Rovers side since he arrived at the turn of the year from Rochdale. He picked up a hamstring injury during the 2-1 victory over Burton Albion and sat out the trip to Ipswich Town last week.
DARREN POTTER
The former Liverpool man picked up a knock last weekend and was substituted in the 4-1 defeat at Ipswich Town. But in his pre-match press conference, Micky Mellon informed that Potter has resumed training and should be available for selection.
JACOB MADDOX
The on-loan Chelsea man is yet to make an appearance for Rovers since his move from Stamford Bridge. The midfielder was in the matchday squad for the trip to Rotherham a few weeks ago, but has not been involved since. Maddox has returned to Chelsea for some treatment, but a timescale on his absence is, as yet, unknown.
ISHMAEL MILLER
The big striker was enjoying a good pre-season campaign, having recovered from the injury problems which blighted his spell after joining Rovers in the second half of last season, before sustaining a hamstring problem against Walsall in the final warm-up match before the new campaign. There’s still no real news of how close he is to a return to action.
MORGAN FERRIER
Another player who sustained a knee ligament injury in training a few weeks ago and has missed the past few games. The striker is unlikely to feature again until the end of October/beginning of November.
