Bristol Rovers will be without Chris Martin for a minimum of two months after Matt Taylor confirmed two injury blows for his side.
The 35-year-old made his first appearance of the season against Rotherham United on August 17 after following a four-game suspension from a headbutt in the game against Cambridge United at the end of last season. He went down against Stockport County just after the half-time break and was replaced by Ruel Sotiriou.
Bristol Live’s Dan Hargreaves has confirmed that the Rovers striker had broken his fibula in the game at Edgeley Park, and will be out of action for at least the next eight weeks. The number 18 joined from Queens Park Rangers last season and was the top scorer for The Gas last season with 16 goals.
It was also confirmed that Joel Senior will also be absent in the short term after a hamstring injury. The former Morecambe full-back was subbed on against Stockport for Isaac Hutchinson but is now out for a similar time frame to Martin.
The 25-year-old was a free transfer to the Memorial Stadium amidst The Shrimp’s off-field issues causing the departure of most of the playing squad in Lancashire. He featured in four games so far, playing a total of 215 minutes.
The injury blow to Rovers’ star man in Martin may put on hold any move for Jevani Brown, with the forward yet to make any of Matt Taylor’s matchday squad this season. The former Exeter City man was used further forward than his usual attacking midfield role since the arrival of the current boss but had struggled to make an impact.
Sotiriou and Promise Omochere, who signed for a club-record fee from Fleetwood Town, are the only natural number nines now fit in the squad. It was the latter that started alongside Martin in Cheshire last week, with the Cypriot his replacement upon his injury.
Writer’s View
This is a massive blow to Bristol Rovers in the short-term. Chris Martin was the main source of goals for the club last season and so far they have struggled to find the net in League One. Whilst former Leyton Orient man Ruel Sotiriou can fill that void, scoring 11 to the 35-year-old’s 16 in the third tier last season, he has not been particularly threatening in what limited time he has had. Perhaps it will be regular game time that gets the Cypriot back in form for his new club.
The injury may also force Matt Taylor to search for a half-season loan in the transfer market. He had previously said he would be ‘reactive’ in the market and a major injury to his first-choice striker is enough of an impetus to act before the window shuts tomorrow. The club is no stranger to late-stage moves in windows with January last year seeing multiple deadline day deals done at The Memorial Stadium.
Be the first to comment