Matt Taylor reveals worrying injury timeline for Bristol Rovers duo

Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor has provided updates on the injured Sam Finley and Luke McCormick, as the pair continue their rehabilitation.

The 42-year-old indicated that the duo are expected to remain absent from the matchday squad for the foreseeable future. "They miss possibly 10 games," said Taylor.

"Certainly in the higher numbers, so we're really missing the personnel."

The former Rothertham United boss has has a lot of injuries to contend with since he became manager of the Gas back in December. "They are still a little bit away, Luke McCormick is probably out for another four or five weeks at least, it was a serious nature to that back injury.

"Sam Finley he's having an injection via scan tomorrow and then post that injection, we are probably looking at a two to three-week block, so we're probably looking at a four to five week period, so that's not a short amount of time and within that time."

Deeper within the absentee list, there is a range of timeframes in which different individuals are at and this has been struggle for Taylor so far this season. "Then you put on the top of that the Grant Ward’s, the Connor Taylor’s of this world. Jordan Rossiter is obviously a long-term,, but we've got a few problems in relation to that."

The gaffer suggested that the injury situation must change and quick, as the injury list continues to grow and grow. His predecessor Joey Barton made a change from recruiting young players to signing experienced veterans but a large chunk of the signings have missed periods of the season.

He said: "There doesn't seem to be much durability within the squad, some of the players that we spoke about in terms of where they're at with their game time.

"One thing we have to do at the end of this season and the start of next season is get a durable squad, first and foremost and look at who played 30 or 40 games the season and then who played 30 or 40 games the season before that.

"We can't keep signing players who are fantastic players, but the unavailable factor plays too big a part, as it really affects the group."

The Gas will look to bounce back after a disappointing result in midweek, where Taylor's side lost 2-0 to relegation battlers Fleetwood Town. Rovers welcome Burton Albion to the Memorial Stadium this weekend, and will of course be without key players, including McCormick and Finley.

The Pirates lost the return fixture back in October, where they were pumped 4-1 at the Pirelli Stadium. Taylor will hope his side can be more competitive this time around as Rovers look to get closer to the play-off positions.