Rovers may seek reinforcements after Ayunga’s hamstring injury
BEN Garner has hinted an injury to Jonah Ayunga could prompt Bristol Rovers to enter the transfer market for a striker before the window closes.
Rovers signed two forwards in the summer - Havant & Waterlooville prospect Ayunga and Brandon Hanlan - but with the Kenyan target-man sidelined with a hamstring injury, Garner appears short of depth up top.
Gasheads have been calling for the club to bolster their attacking options for weeks, with just three strikers on the books - Ayunga, Hanlan and James Daly - and they might get their wish ahead of the window shutting on October 16. Garner has insisted Rovers are “still active” in the transfer market, and he admits Ayunga’s injury might lead them to make a move.
“We’re assessing it (making signings),” the manager said. “Obviously Jonah has picked up an injury, so we take that into consideration now. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a few weeks. He’s had a scan and there’s a little bit of damage in the bottom of his hamstring so he’s going to be a bit of time, unfortunately.
“But he’s positive, and he’s already started his rehab. We’ll just hope to get him back as quickly as we possibly can.
“Alex Rodman has still not
returned to full training with us yet, so we take that into account.
“It will be a case of fine-tuning the squad now and deciding what we need certainly until January and looking at areas that we think can enhance us, and we will do that.”
Rodman’s absence has been particularly frustrating for the player, Garner and his staff due to the peculiar nature of the illness.
The 33-year-old has been suffering bouts of vertigo following an ear infection in August. His recovery has been undulating, with two or three good days followed by a bad one which sets him back to square one. The Rovers boss hopes the wing-back will be back in full training next week.
“With this vertigo issue he’s had and this ear infection, he’s basically got to fulfil protocol almost like a concussion,” Garner told the Bristol Post. “He’s working through those stages with the hope of resuming full training next week. As long as he keeps ticking off each day and not getting any symptoms, we can build him up the following day.
“Hopefully, from Monday, he can return to full training which will be great.”
Mark Little is another veteran member of the Rovers squad on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of a calf injury. The 32-yearold is not expected back soon, but Garner is delighted with his rehabilitation efforts. “He’s got a bit to go, Mark,” the manager said. “He’s working really hard, he’s attacked his rehab from day one and he’s doing everything he possibly can, so it’s just a case of pushing and getting back as quickly as he can.”