Shamrock Rovers are considering a defensive transfer swoop as cover for injured star Roberto Lopes.
The Hoops centre-back is facing up to two months on the sidelines after damaging his medial knee ligaments.
Cape Verde international Lopes suffered the injury in the second-half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Drogheda United.
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He left the ground on crutches that day and was still in a brace at last night’s Champions League win over Ludogorets, where he watched from the stands.
“Pico will be out for around eight weeks,” said Rovers boss Stephen Bradley. “It’s not too bad. I thought he’d be out until next season.”
Lee Grace and Sean Hoare are stalwarts of the Rovers defence, either side of Lopes.
Sean Gannon can also play in a back three while Sean Kavanagh started there against Drogheda and midfielder Gary O’Neill has filled in during games in the past.
Barry Cotter would have been an option too, but he has joined St Pat’s on loan until the end of the season.
Asked if he would look to sign defensive cover in this transfer window, Bradley said: “Hopefully. We won’t bring anyone just to bring them in.
“If it’s someone that improves or fits what we do, we’ll definitely do it. We’re in that process.”
Jack Byrne also missed last night’s Champions League game as well as the Drogheda clash last weekend.
But the Ireland international is on track to be available for next Thursday’s Europa League third round clash at home to Shkupi of North Macedonia.
Bradley added: “Hopefully. It was 10 days so next Thursday he should be just there.”
Rovers will, at the very least, be guaranteed a group stage campaign in the Europa Conference League if they get past Shkupi over two legs.
And Bradley feels the performance in last night’s 2-1 win over Bulgarian aces Ludogorets proves that Rovers can mix it in this company.
He said: “People made a lot of the (first-leg ) scoreline and probably rightly so because it was 3-0. But when we watched it and really analysed it, the game wasn’t a 3-0.
“To perform like that against a team who are regulars in the group stages and with that investment, I thought the players were outstanding.
“Ludogorets are a club that turned down €10m for a player last week and have someone on €200,000 per month.
“If we play to that level again, we’ll go very close to getting there (group stages).”
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