Sam Nicholson is set to miss Bristol Rovers' trip to Northampton Town as a shin injury rumbles on, Joey Barton has revealed.
Nicholson has missed Rovers' past three games due to "severe" bruising sustained in the defeat at Newport County earlier this month. The pain is in a similar area to the tibia fracture the winger suffered earlier in the season, but there is no structural damage to the bone this time.
With five goals and four assists in League Two this season, Nicholson is sure to be a crucial player for the Gas in the run-in, however, the 27-year-old is yet to return to full training and looks likely to miss Saturday's game against promotion rivals Northampton.
