Bristol Rovers manager Inigo Calderon is dealing with a selection headache as the Gas prepare to travel to Crawley Town this weekend, with injuries and international call-ups leaving the squad light in attacking options.
With joint-top scorer Ruel Sotiriou away on international duty with Cyprus and teenage forward Ollie Dewsbury representing Wales Under-17s, Rovers are struggling for options in the final third.
The situation is worsened by the absence of Promise Omochere, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
Martin and O’Donkor Fitness Concerns
While there is hope that some players may return, Calderon has confirmed they will not be fit enough to start. Gatlin O’Donkor is edging closer to a return after a month-long absence with a hamstring injury, while experienced striker Chris Martin remains a doubt after missing two of the last three games with a knee problem.
“I don’t know yet. It’s a possibility,” Calderon said on Martin’s availability. “O’Donkor is getting better and better, and probably he can have a few minutes.”
Midfielders Grant Ward and Romaine Sawyers are also nearing a return, but like O’Donkor, they are unlikely to be ready to start.
Calderon Searching for Solutions
With limited attacking options, Calderon is looking towards players who have struggled for game time in recent weeks. Michael Reindorf, on loan from Cardiff City, has not played in over a month, while Shaq Forde is also in contention despite a difficult spell.
“Now we have to find solutions, and those solutions are going to come from players that probably haven’t been playing that much,” Calderon admitted. “So there are a couple of players—maybe they weren’t in the starting 11, maybe they were not even in the squad the other day—and maybe they can start this weekend.”
The Spaniard is keen to keep the entire squad engaged, knowing that some previously overlooked players will need to step up.
“That’s why it’s important to have the whole squad connected to the reality,” he added. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not in the squad or you’re on the bench, you’re still part of the team.”
Writer’s View
Bristol Rovers’ lack of firepower could make their trip to Crawley a challenging one. With their first-choice strikers unavailable, the Gas will need someone to step up in attack. Calderon’s options are limited, but this game presents a real opportunity for fringe players to prove their worth. Rovers must find a way to cope if they want to keep their League One survival hopes alive.
