Clarke closing in on Rovers return

Experienced front man just ‘a week or two’ away from comeback appearance

JOEY Barton has revealed Leon Clarke could return to action for Bristol Rovers next week as the striker completes his recovery from a serious hamstring injury.

When the 36-year-old limped off at Hartlepool United in September, Rovers feared for Clarke’s season and possibly the rest of his career.

But, after surgery, he has battled through months of rehab to return to full training and he is expected to be available for action within days.

After a period where Rovers have played without a number nine, the signing of Ryan Loft and Clarke’s comeback will give the manager a more physical presence at the centre of his attack in the second half of the campaign.

The former Sheffield United striker – a deadline day signing after his release by Shrewsbury – scored just a minute into his debut in September’s win over Crawley before the injury occurred in the North East at the following game.

Clarke’s progress headlined a raft of positive injury news, with Alfie Kilgour, Connor Taylor and Josh Grant due to be available to face

Hartlepool at the Memorial Stadium today, and with Anssi Jaakkola back in full training too.

The players who missed Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Peterborough after testing positive for Covid-19 are also due to feature on against Hartlepool. Barton, too, will be present after returning two negative tests, which saw his return to training on Thursday.

“It’s night and day compared to the last month,” Barton said. “We’ve been, for one reason or another, having people affected at different stages. We’ve been decimated and