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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Sam Frost

Expected Bristol Rovers team to play Burton Albion with Erhun Oztumer available for debut

Bristol Rovers will chase a third win on the spin for the first time in Ben Garner's tenure on Saturday as Burton Albion visit the Mem.

The Gas are buoyant following consecutive league wins against Northampton Town and Lincoln City respectively, and the signing of proven playmaker Erhun Oztumer has only enhanced the optimism surrounding the club.

Th 29-year-old, who joined on loan from Charlton Athletic on Thursday, is set to be involved on Saturday, and could even come straight into the starting lineup.

In fact, Garner has plenty of welcome selection headaches following a run of good performances from both his regular starters and squad players in recent weeks. This is the XI Bristol Live expects the manager to select on Saturday.

Defence

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and after taking six points from their last two League One games Garner has no reason to change the Gas rearguard.

Anssi Jaakkola will play in goal with Max Ehmer, Jack Baldwin and Cian Harries forming the back three.

Flanking the trio of centre-halves will be Josh Hare, who started in victory at Sincil bank with a stunning assist for the equaliser and a hand in the second goal, and Gasheads' newest cult hero David Tutonda.

Alfie Kilgour, Michael Kelly and Luke Leahy will offer depth from the bench.

Deadline day addition Ryan Jones has been loaned back to Weston-super-Mare for the rest of the season.

Midfield

Again, Garner is unlikely to err too far from the XI that has served him well of late, and Josh Grant and Zain Westbrooke will hold their places in central midfield.

The number 10 role is up for grabs, though. Garner has a choice to make between rewarding Luke McCormick for a pair of energetic and effective displays supporting the two strikers, or drafting Oztumer straight into the XI.

Sam Nicholson, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson – fit again after a groin strain – and Cameron Hargreaves are also in with a shout, giving Garner precisely what he wanted: healthy competition for places.

Ultimately, he may opt to reward McCormick for his efforts and task him with doing the hard running in the first hour, leaving plenty of aces up his sleeve to break the game open late on if needed.

Tom Mehew and Ed Upson will provide cover for the holding roles.

Attack

Brandon Hanlan picked up a knock after scoring the winner at Sincil Bank last Saturday, but he should be fine to start against the Brewers at the Mem. The number nine has been superb since arriving at the club, proving to be a nuisance for defenders and winning – and scoring – a pair of vital penalties.

He will be partnered by the energetic James Daly, who will be brimming with confidence after netting his first EFL goal at Lincoln.

Jonah Ayunga's injury leaves Rovers' short of alternatives for the bench, but Zain Walker will add cover and Mitchell-Lawson is considered capable of playing as the second striker, too.

Rovers (3-5-2): Jaakkola; Ehmer (c), Baldwin, Harries; Hare, Grant, Westbrooke, Tutonda; McCormick; Hanlan, Daly.

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