Bristol Rovers midfielder Jordan Rossiter has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, while Lewis Gibson remains sidelined with a thigh problem, prompting Joey Barton to make a move in the transfer market.
Rossiter has missed more than a month after damaging his meniscus against MK Dons in the EFL Trophy, while centre-back Gibson has not been seen in the blue and white quarters since the New Year's Day win over Cheltenham Town at the Mem.
The pair are several weeks from returning to first-team contention and as a result, Barton is looking for additions in their respective positions. On Thursday, he revealed two central midfielders and a centre-back feature on a five-man wishlist before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
Rossiter has been a crucial player when he has been available, anchoring the midfield to great effect in 17 league appearances, but hopes he would be back in early February have been dashed.
"Jordy has had a setback in his rehab, which will prolong him more than we thought," Barton said. "He was back on the grass this week so we were thinking he was going to be two or three weeks from here. That is not going to be the case now.
"How long it is, I’m not sure until he speaks to people, but it probably rules him out for the foreseeable.
"He’s had a flare up and he needs to speak to the physios and have the scans and find out what that is, but it doesn’t look like he’s going to be back on the grass in the next two weeks, which was the hope."
Winger Harry Anderson is back in contention for Saturday's trip to Morecambe after missing the past two games with a groin injury, but Gibson will not make the trip.
The Everton loanee is having a similar season to Rossiter; he has also played 17 games and been impressive, but he has been in and out of the side due to injuries.
"Lewis is on track from what it was, but he’s still two or three weeks from here," Barton explained. "He’s still on track, but the most dangerous point is when they step back out on the grass again. It’s all good and well if they have their rehabilitation until they start twisting and turning.
"For me, I have to go ‘They (Rossiter and Gibson) are not going to affect the first team in the next period and we need players in that can do that’."
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