Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth preview: Rovers skipper Mark McChrystal set to make season bow
Friday 25 September 2015 10:55, UK
Bristol Rovers captain Mark McChrystal hopes to make his first appearance of the season in the Sky Bet League Two home game with Portsmouth.
McChrystal suffered a knee injury during pre-season training in July and his recovery has taken longer than expected, but he was on the bench for the Pirates' 1-1 draw at Plymouth last weekend.
The defender stepped up his fitness in midweek when he played an hour of Rovers reserves' 2-1 victory over Exeter's second string.
Full-back Daniel Leadbitter also played in that reserve-team fixture and hopes to feature for the first time since pulling a hamstring on August 22.
Goalkeeper Aaron McCarey will go straight into Portmouth's squad after arriving on a one-month emergency loan deal.
The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international will vie for selection with Michael Poke, recently recalled from a loan move to Eastleigh, following injuries to goalkeepers Paul Jones and Brian Murphy.
Manager Paul Cook is also without Michael Doyle, who was sent off in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Oxford.
Connor Chaplin, who has suffered a shin injury but is waiting to learn more about his condition, may also miss out.
