Bristol Rovers injury crisis worsens as summer signing joins absentee list

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton has confirmed that defender James Wilson has picked up an injury in training this week.

Wilson came off at half-time in the Gas’ defeat at home to West Ham U21s in the EFL Trophy on Thursday which left many Rovers fans concerned about the centre back’s fitness.

“I know a few people are thinking he had picked up something in the game on Tuesday night”, said Barton to BBC Radio Bristol.

“He absolutely didn’t, it was just 45 minutes for him and Connor (Taylor) and right at the back end of Thursday’s training there was a clash of knees or ankles and he tweeked his ankle ligaments.

“Thankfully we had him x-rayed and there is no break and it looks like he’s going to miss at least a month if not a little bit longer.”

The news surfaces after manager Barton announced fresh injuries to both George Friend and Tristan Crama in the past week.

Friend came off after just seven minutes in Rovers’ victory away at Shrewsbury Town last weekend, meanwhile Crama has gone back to his parent club Brentford to begin his rehabilitation on an injury that the loanee picked up in training.

“It’s dissapointing but we have built a bit of depth in the squad,” added Barton.

“It was really strong last week and this week we have lost George Friend, Tristan Crama and obviously Wilson, so its a bit of blow, so that’s why you build a bigger squad, in order to absorb these tough moments.”