Tranmere Rovers still have a considerable injury list as they are back on the road, travelling to Buckinghamshire for a League One encounter against MK Dons on Saturday afternoon.
The injury crisis doesn’t appear to have been added to in the past few days (hope we’re not tempting fate by saying that), but it is still a lengthy list despite a couple of players returning from lay-offs in the past couple of games.
Rovers will have had 11 days to dwell on a very disappointing 5-0 loss at the hands of Sunderland last time out, last Saturday’s game vs Doncaster Rovers being called off for a waterlogged pitch.
Stefan Payne, who should have sat out that game against Donny, will instead miss this one, having received a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards so far this season.
Let’s take a closer look at the players who Tranmere boss Micky Mellon 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. He’s set to return to training with the squad in the next week or so. 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. In his pre-match press conference ahead of the game, Micky Mellon intimated that a return date of February may be the target for the former Shrewsbury Town man.
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. Again, the manager suggested that February may be when the youngster might become available and back to full fitness.
OLLIE BANKS
The former Oldham Athletic midfielder went under the knife recently for a knee injury picked up in training which will likely rule him out until the New Year.
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, he is currently still in a knee brace and is expected to be on the sidelines for a further four to five weeks.
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. The boss reported that he is training with the squad, although still suffering with discomfort.
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 revealed he has suffered no damage so he will be available for selection once more.
ISHMAEL MILLER
The forgotten man. The big striker was enjoying a decent pre-season before pulling up with a hamstring injury in Rovers’ final pre-season friendly against Walsall. There has been very little said about his situation, so it’s unknown whether he will return to action before his six-month contract expires in January.
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
The 24-year-old front man has been missing from the squad since sustaining a knee injury in training at the end of August. The club’s YouTube channel had a video of him, and out-of-contract Luke McCullough, back in light training this week. It is hoped that the former Walsall man will return to full training again next week.
