Bristol Rovers’ League Two promotion rivals Swindon Town have been hit by a major injury blow with the news that top scorer Harry McKirdy could be out for the rest of the season.
McKirdy has scored 16 goals in 31 games for Ben Garner’s side who lie seventh in the table, two points behind the Gas. The Robins are also the second-highest scoring team in the division.
The Swindon Advertiser report that McKirdy has been struck down with an unknown injury, however the 24-year-old has struggled with an ankle problem since February, which he required injections for, and experienced a thigh injury earlier in the season.
Swindon have also been without Aston Villa loan forward Louie Barry since February, as they travel to Rochdale this Saturday before a huge promotion clash with Newport County next weekend.
The report suggests that such is the concern around McKirdy’s injury he may not even be 100 per cent fit in time for the League Two play-offs, should Swindon reach the postseason.
Elsewhere, the team directly above Rovers in the table, Northampton Town, are without first-choice left-back Ali Koiki - formerly of the Gas - for the next four weeks while key midfielder Shaun McWilliams has undergone scans on a potentially serious knee injury.
The League Two promotion race is exceptionally tight with just six points separating Exeter City in second and Mansfield Town in 10th, with Rovers’ next assignment at Carlisle United on Saturday.
“It seems every division when you look through, whether it’s the Championship or the race for the Champions League places in the Premier League. League One at the top and bottom looks quite contested,” manager Joey Barton said.
“It’s all to play for and it looks like everybody has got to play each other at some point in the run-in. There are some double-headers in there and some teams that haven’t played us in this part of the season.
“We’re in the mix with eight to go and we’re confident. We’ve got an exciting end to the season should we continue recent form improvement and recent performance.”
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