Full Bristol Rovers injury round-up as star undergoes operation

Bristol Rovers are in the business end of the League One season - as they look to secure their status in the third tier after being promoted last season.

Ten points separate the Gas and the drop zone, and a target of 52 points was set out by Joey Barton at the start of the season. A total of 52 should be enough to ensure that Rovers survive their first season back after winning promotion from League Two in dramatic circumstances last year. A win against Oxford United, which ended up costing Karl Robinson his job, was followed-up with a goalless draw against Barnsley, one of the in-form teams in the division.

Up next for Bristol Rovers is Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, March 10, which will be their 35th game of the season. Here is all you need to know about the current state of play at the Memorial Stadium and the expected return dates for those on the sidelines.

Harry Anderson

Anderson unfortunately had to rejoin the sidelines after what has been a stop-start campaign for the former Lincoln City winger. The 26-year-old had a run of six matches after returning from his first groin problem of the season, suffered against Sheffield Wednesday at the end of October. He missed nine matches the last time and Joey Barton has put a time frame of four to five weeks, with a likely return against Derby County on April 15.

“Operation went well be back on the pitch soon Thanks for the well wishes,” tweeted Anderson on his personal account on Sunday evening, which is at least some positive news. Anderson is out-of-contract at the end of the season, and whilst talks are ongoing, so far there has been no progress from December onwards.

Jordan Rossiter

Rossiter has been out since mid-December after being substituted against MK Dons in the EFL Trophy. The summer signing has missed the last 14 matches, and despite an initial return date of the end of January spoken about, there is a possibility his season is over.

Rossiter damagied his meniscus against the Dons, and that required surgery which hasn’t gone in the favour of Rovers, who are under the impression that he won’t play again. At the very best, he could play in the final few matches of the season, but Barton is working on a ‘worst case scenario’ and they do not want to avoid aggrevating his injury after such a long lay-off.

Josh Grant

The 24-year-old has played just 10 minutes this season, coming on as a substitute in the win against Oxford United in early August. Grant suffered an injury in pre-season, and it was decided that the best course of action was for him to undergo surgery on his knee. The former Chelsea midfielder is recovering well and is back on the training ground, but isn’t expected to play any further part in the current campaign.

He had suffered a knee problem against Sutton United around this time last year and that ruled him out for a large chunk of the run-in of the promotion season. Grant like Anderson is out of contract at the end of the season, and Barton had previously admitted he wanted to keep him at the Mem.

Paul Coutts

Coutts was first named on the team sheet against Barnsley, but just before kick-off he was withdrawn and replaced by Luke McCormick. Barton revealed that a knee injury was why he did not play against the Tykes. There is a hope that he will be fit for the trip to Forest Green Rovers this weekend.