Inigo Calderon provides Bristol Rovers injury and transfer update ahead of Ipswich Town trip

Inigo Calderon has confirmed that Jack Hunt is now available for selection ahead of this weekend’s trip to Premier League side Ipswich Town in the FA Cup third round after over two months on the sidelines with a calf tear.

The right-back has made just six appearances for Bristol Rovers this season and hasn’t played since the 3-1 victory against Weston-super-Mare in the first round. He also was an interim coach for Rovers' 1-1 draw with Wrexham last month as Dave Horseman took interim charge following Matt Taylor's sacking.

However, the 34-year-old's return is a welcome boost which puts the Gas in a decent position in regards to player availability as they look to cause an upset on Sunday before redirecting their focus towards steering away from danger in the League One table.

“Hunty is available for the game so that’s good news,” the Rovers head coach declared on Thursday. “You know, I hate when I see people running and running and running and not able to play football. So everybody is more than welcome because we need bodies.

“Yeah and another thing, everybody in this squad, I think, can bring things and I like the mix we have with the young and experienced players,” he added. “I think it’s a great combination. For me, that’s key and you can see that.

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“Probably without being 100 per cent fit, you still can bring things to the team and it’s coming because that experience and that’s always positive and always the place they come in from an injury, they have an extra bit because obviously they’ve been out so they want to play and they want to train. So it’s always a positive thing.”

Elsewhere the only player known to be ruled out of the trip to Portman Road is Promise Omochere who is set to be on the sidelines for a significant period of time with a serious hamstring injury while Kamil Conteh's availability is still unclear amid recent absences.

Whether or not Rovers react to the injury by bringing in a striker this month is yet to be seen but, when asked about further January additions following the arrival of Romaine Sawyers, Calderon kept his cards close to his chest.

“I know there's a lot of things behind the scenes to try to make the team better and to improve them. But at the same time I don't think we have to rush anything. I'm happy with [what] we have. If we can bring some players that are better, welcome. If not, I don't think we have to bring players just for the fact of bringing them.”