Bristol Rovers hope James Connolly will make a return to full-contact training within the next 10 days as the defender steps up his return from injury. The 20-year-old centre-back has missed six weeks of action after a stress fracture was discovered in his back.
The former Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers was a key member of Joey Barton's promotion-winning team last season and his absence, compounded by a series of other injuries in defence, has been problematic for the manager. Only two teams in League One have a poorer defensive record than Rovers after 11 games with Barton's makeshift solutions yet to deliver solidity.
However, the injury woes are easing for the Gas with centre-half Lewis Gibson and full-back James Gibbons making their returns to action in midweek. There is optimism about Connolly, too.
