Bristol Rovers list of injuries has lengthened with another attacking player sidelined.
Luke Thomas will miss Saturday's trip to Walsall and possibly a month of action with an ankle injury, Joey Barton revealed at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Thomas, on loan from Barnsley, had just forced his way back into contention at Rovers after being ordered to work on his physical conditioning in recent weeks.
The 22-year-old joins Sam Nicholson and Leon Clarke, two of Barton's primary goalscorers, on the sidelines.
With Rovers finding the back of the net just six times in eight League Two games this term and the manager under intense scrutiny from the terraces, to be without a player of Thomas' creative quality for several weeks is a significant blow.
"We’ve lost another one in Luke Thomas," a pained Barton said. "He rocked his ankle in training and it looks like it’s going to be at least a couple of weeks. Hopefully it’s on the short side, but it could be up to a month.
"Disappointed for him, because he’s worked hard to get himself back into the first-team picture and came on in the game, but there was an innocuous challenge in the game this week where he just rocked his ankle.
"Disappointed for Luke, but no doubt he will be back stronger."
Alex Rodman, Anssi Jaakkola, Trevor Clarke and Mark Hughes are among the other players who have been unavailable through injury, and Barton said none of them will be part of the travelling party on Saturday.
Leon Clarke's hamstring issue is the most serious, with Barton suggesting the veteran striker's season and career is at threat, but a COVID-created backlog means he is yet to see a specialist.
"I think because he (the specialist) is one of the most renowned people in the world for this type of injury, it’s such a peculiar injury, there is a strange waiting list," the manager said.
"Before COVID, I think it was easier to get in and see domain experts, but at the moment he is still waiting for his consultation.
"Whether that’s to wait for some of the swelling to go down, I’m not sure, I’m not a medical expert, but the prognosis isn’t great and I’ve got everything crossed for Leon because it’s his career at stake. It’s not looking good.
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