By Deadly Submarine
October 14 2005

Tranmere have announced that Captain Jason McAteer is likely to be out of action for around six weeks after picking up a knee ligament injury following a tackle in training. He is expected to return to first team action sometime in December just in time for the busy Christmas period of games.

McAteer 34, came under fire by a section of Rovers fans following the 2-0 home defeat to Scunthorpe United last Friday night and whilst no injury news is welcome at this stage of the season, it gives Brian Little no excuse for not giving other players a chance in the captain's abscence.

McAteer had been set to miss Saturday's trip to Bristol City anyway after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the defeat to Scunthorpe and therefore a one match ban. However, his absence leaves Rovers a little shorter on options in already suffering midfield with Danny Harrison also set to be out for a further three to four weeks after surgery on a broken nose.

It's expected that Mark Rankine and Steve Jennings will form the midfield partnership this Saturday but other than wingers, Sam Aiston and Nicky Summerbee and Paul Brown who has just returned from loan at Accrington Stanley, Rovers have precious little central midfield options. 

Only this week, manager Brian Little revealed that he is trying to sign a midfielder on loan but so far this has not come about and any player signed today would be unable to play at Ashton Gate tomorrow anyway.