Forest Green boosted by return of Pearce and Mills

Posted Friday, November 16, 2018 by PA

Forest Green manager Mark Cooper hopes to have striker Isaac Pearce back for his side’s Sky Bet League Two game against Morecambe.

Pearce was hurt in Rovers’ 3-1 defeat by Arsenal Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy 10 days ago and missed Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Oxford but has resumed full training.

Rovers remain without the injured Liam Shephard and Lee Collins but fellow defender Joseph Mills is expected to face Morecambe after also taking a full part in training this week.

Cooper admitted this week that he expects to have a number of players back as they seek to end a run of three games without a win in all competitions.

Morecambe are still without full-back Zak Mills who has been told he needs to undergo hernia surgery.

Mills has been battling with the problem since his summer arrival, but after playing through the pain barrier has now been ruled out for three to four weeks.

Also on the sidelines are Andy Fleming, Lamin Jagne and James Sinclair, who had been pencilled in as the right-back alternative to Mills so manager Jim Bentley appears to be left with a straight choice between Jordan Cranston and Luke Conlan.

Carlos Mendes-Gomes is back in training after some time out of action and may be able to play on Saturday.