Tranmere Rovers will be looking to build on back-to-back draws in League One as they visit Oxford United this weekend.
A point earned against both Rotherham United and Gillingham in the past couple of matches have been fairly positive for Rovers, particularly in the manner in which they have been achieved.
The fixture at the Kassam Stadium against Oxford United is an important one as the U’s sit on the same number of points as Tranmere, although they are three places below due to a poorer goal difference. They’ve also played a game more than Micky Mellon’s men.
It will be important to keep Karl Robinson’s side below us in the standings, and that will be guaranteed with a positive result this weekend.
As we begin to preview the weekend’s game, here we will run through who’s unavailable for Rovers through suspension or injury.
COREY BLACKETT-TAYLOR
The former Aston Villa man saw red against Bristol Rovers and will serve the final game of a three-match suspension at the Kassam Stadium this weekend. After demonstrating some glimpses of the quality he will bring to the side in the games he has played in this season, Micky Mellon will be looking forward to having him back available next week.
JAKE CAPRICE
The right-back has missed the first few weeks of the season with an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season friendly against Walsall. He has been back in training in the last couple of weeks but has not yet been involved with the first team. He could be close to a return to the matchday squad at Oxford.
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.
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. A timescale on how long the former Manchester City man will be out for has not been released, but it seems he won’t be available again this weekend.
MORGAN FERRIER
Another player who sustained a knee ligament injury in training a few weeks ago and has missed the past couple of games. The striker is unlikely to feature again until the end of October/beginning of November.
