Scunthorpe will have to do without last season's top scorer Paddy Madden for the visit of Bristol Rovers.

Madden did not miss a game in 2015/16 but has yet to shake off a pre-season calf injury and will have to be patient as he waits for a return date.

New arrival Sam Mantom has also been struggling with a knee problem but has returned to training and could play some part on Saturday.

Manager Graham Alexander has no other concerns.

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke hopes his defensive headaches have eased on the club's return to the third tier of English football.

James Clarke and Tom Lockyer have had disrupted pre-season programmes, but both centre-backs managed to play an hour in the Pirates' 3-0 victory over Cheltenham last weekend.

Daniel Leadbitter and Cristian Montano both missed that game through injury and teenager Ryan Broom is standing by to make his first league start at Glanford Park.

Veteran midfielder Lee Mansell is in danger of missing out with a calf problem, with Ollie Clark, Stuart Sinclair and Liam Lawrence all expected to shrug off knocks.