Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans has played down the prospect of signing a free-agent striker as injuries and a shortage of goals restrict his attacking options.
The Gas were held to a goalless draw by Swindon Town on Saturday, leaving them with one victory from their last eight League Two matches.
Steve Evans explains Bristol Rovers striker concerns
Rovers scored 11 times in their opening four league games, but have managed just five goals across the subsequent nine. They have not scored more than once in any of those nine fixtures, although they remain only three points outside the play-off places in 15th.
Ellis Harrison missed the Swindon match through injury, while Bobby Kamwa lasted just eight minutes after coming on in the second half. That leaves Fabrizio Cavegn and Joe Quigley as the only fit out-and-out strikers, with Shaq Forde another option after partnering Quigley late in the derby.
Speaking to Bristol Live, Evans explained why looking outside the existing squad was unlikely to provide a straightforward answer. He stressed that his immediate priority was working with the players available.
“We’ll focus on the boys who are available to us at the training ground. The free market is a real difficult market, particularly for strikers, Will.
“Because I think every one of our supporters knows if there was a good striker on the free market, they wouldn’t be out there on the free market, would they? They would be at a football club.
“So it tells you it has to be players that’s contracted somewhere.”
Recalling a loan player also appears complicated, despite Promise Omochere scoring five goals for Southend United. Evans indicated that Omochere was currently unavailable, while Mees Rijks is receiving treatment at Rovers after suffering an injury during his spell with Forest Green Rovers.
Which strikers are available on free transfers?
Transfermarkt’s free-agent listings include experienced Kemar Roofe, Andre Gray and Freddie Ladapo. Roofe, 33, has played for Leeds United and Rangers, while Gray, 35, brings Premier League experience with Burnley and Watford. Ladapo, also 33, has previously helped Rotherham United and Ipswich Town win promotion from League One, although his most recent spell was with Chesterfield.
Younger options listed include former Blackburn Rovers striker Jack Vale, 25, who has also played for Lincoln City, Motherwell and Northampton Town. Louis Flower, 22, is another available forward, having come through the Chelsea and Brighton academies before spending last season with Crawley Town and on loan at Woking. Those names illustrate the range of experience on the market, although Evans did not identify any of them as targets.
For now, the challenge is finding more goals from within a depleted squad. Cavegn and Kamwa lead Rovers’ league scoring charts with three apiece, leaving Evans needing a greater contribution as his side seek to climb the table.
