Bristol Rovers vs Oxford United - Bristol Rovers to check on Liam Sercombe before Oxford game

Posted Friday, August 23, 2019 by PA

Bristol Rovers are still waiting on Liam Sercombe’s fitness as they prepare to host his former club Oxford this weekend.

The midfielder missed Tuesday’s win over Tranmere with the injury he sustained against Coventry last weekend and it remains to be seen when he will return.

Rovers will be hoping Mark Little is not sidelined for too much longer but fellow full-back Tareiq Holmes-Dennis and midfielder Sam Matthews are long-term absentees.

Manager Graham Coughlan could opt to name an unchanged side after Rovers picked up their opening league win in midweek, but wingers Kyle Bennett and fit-again Alex Rodman are options if he decides to freshen things up.

Oxford boss Karl Robinson has virtually a full-strength squad to choose from for the trip to Bristol with Shandon Baptiste closing in on a return to action.

Baptiste has been sidelined since January after suffering a serious knee injury but the midfielder is back in training and pushing for a first-team recall.

With Tariqe Fosu having returned to action off the bench in Tuesday’s 4-2 home loss to Burton, Malachi Napa is the only player on the treatment table.

Robinson has been assessing former Rovers striker Matty Taylor’s recovery after the new loan signing played the full match in midweek, having only had 10 minutes of action for parent club Bristol City previously this season.