Hoskins injury could prove fatal for goal-shy Bristol Rovers
Published:Bristol Rovers will need to find a new regular scorer if they wish to remain in the League One promotion picture in the coming weeks as Will Hoskins is set to face a spell on the sidelines.
Hoskins injured an ankle and had to be replaced as Paul Trollope’s team were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first round stage by non-league Darlington.
Only five players have scored in League One for Bristol Rovers with Hoskins leading the way with six goals this season, while he was also responsible for Rovers’ goal in the defeat at Darlington.
Trollope is fully aware of the importance of Hoskins to his team and is now relying on another player to step up and prove their worth.
He told the official club website: “We think that Will has sustained ankle ligament damage. His leg was put in a ‘frac pac’ as a precaution.
“It’s too early to assess how long he will be out, but I imagine it will be a few weeks at the very least.”
Hoskins is 25/1 to finish the season as League One’s top scorer, with Plymouth’s Bradley Wright-Phillips currently leading the way with ten goals.
Meanwhile, much of the pressure will now fall on the shoulders of Jo Kuffour to fire the goals to keep Rovers in touch at the head of League One.
They are 12th in the table at present and are 14 points adrift of leaders Brighton, although they are only four points shy of the play-off places.
Kuffour has only managed three goals in his 15 appearances in League One this season, while John Akinde has feature in attack ten times for Bristol Rovers and is still yet to score.
Jeff Hughes follows Hoskins in the scoring stakes, but Trollope cannot rely on him scoring regularly from his position in midfield.
Bristol Rovers are 80/1 to win League One this season. See the complete League One winners betting odds market.
