Tranmere Rovers take on Doncaster Rovers at Prenton Park this weekend in League One.
After a very disappointing 5-0 loss at Sunderland in midweek, Tranmere will be looking to bounce back, but they come up against a side who are coming into the fixture full of confidence having won 7-1 away at Southend United on Tuesday.
The injury list continues to be as long as your arm, while a fifth yellow card of the season at the Stadium of Light for Stefan Payne means he will miss this game through suspension.
Calum Woods and Morgan Ferrier are back running after lengthy lay-offs, so although missing again for this one, hopefully they will soon be available for Micky Mellon.
Let’s take a closer look at the players who the Tranmere boss will have to do without for Saturday’s game…
CALUM WOODS
The experienced full-back, who has looked decent in the little we’ve seen of him in a Tranmere shirt, has returned to light training after picking up an injury against Oxford United in early September. It could be another couple of weeks before Woods becomes available for the gaffer to select again.
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.
OLLIE BANKS
The midfielder went under the knife last week for a knee injury which will likely rule him out for the next three months, meaning his 2019 is effectively over in terms of first team action.
HARVEY GILMOUR
Gilmour took his opportunity in the side after injuries to others, before picking up a knee injury one of his own. Having missed the last two games, it appears he will be out for a while and so unavailable again this weekend.
DARREN POTTER
The experienced midfield player has bruised ribs picked up from a robust challenge against Coventry City. He has missed the last couple of games but may be available again if selected.
COREY BLACKETT-TAYLOR
The former Aston Villa front man missed Tuesday’s game at Sunderland having picked up a hamstring injury against Southend United in the previous match. But a scan has revealed no damage so he will be available for selection once more.
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.
STEFAN PAYNE
Tranmere’s leading goalscorer this season, with four goals to his name, is out through suspension. He collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign at Sunderland which results in a one-match ban.
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 back in light training, running again, but is likely to remain absent for another couple of weeks or so.
