Mystery Bristol Rovers absence explained as Gas ‘back off’ – as injuries decimate squad

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton gives an injury update on Grant Ward, who has been out of action for the last month.

The 28-year old suffered another injury blow in Rovers’ defeat at home to Wycombe in last month’s League One clash.

The midfielder had played every minute of the league campaign so far in his season, before being forced off in the 65th minute against The Chairboys on Saturday, August 26.

“He picked up a bit of a knock in that game,” said Barton when asked about why he hadn’t featured in his match-day squads over the last few weeks.

“He aggravated an achilles. We’ve had to back off him. It was always going to be a three, four, five-week injury.”

Before joining Rovers, Ward endured a difficult spell at Blackpool in which he suffered a serious injury to his achilles, after rupturing his tendon, which forced him to miss more than seven months of action.

The Englishman required surgery after being stretchered off in Blackpool’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth over two years ago.

“He hasn’t joined back in the team yet and until that settles down and we get him back training we have to respect the body’s healing process,” said Barton.

With Ward out alongside fellow midifielder and long-term absentee Jordan Rossiter, manager Barton will feel his side are shorter in the central midfield area.

This could mean that Aston Villa loanee, Lamare Bogarde may feature again on Saturday at home to Wigan, after an impressive performance in last weekend’s victory at Shrewsbury.

For now, Ward remains sidelined alongside a growing list of injuries which include; Rossiter, George Friend and Tristan Crama.

He said: “He’s getting closer to joining back in, albeit he hasn’t at this moment in time rejoined the group.”