Rovers double setback

Rovers, who have won just once in the league so far this term, will be without the duo after the club confirmed they both underwent surgical procedures earlier this week.

Defender Noble has had a pin inserted in his wrist while Horlock, a midfielder, was admitted to hospital for a second operation on his injured shoulder.

"Kevin had to go in for a second lot of shoulder surgery on Tuesday," said team physio John Dickens.

"Matthew has a fractured bone in his wrist and had a pin put into it on Tuesday.."

Despite capturing the Johnston'se Paint Trophy during his first season at Rovers, O'Driscoll recently admitted he is under pressure to achieve results after an indifferent start to the new season.

However, the loss of Noble and Horlock could be offset by the return of Jason Price and Jamie Coppinger who both came through the midweek friendly with Sunderland unscathed.

Rovers face Crewe Alexandra at The Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow and the visitors, who beat Huddersfield Town last time out, are set to include loanee Lee Barnard in their line-up after his scoring debut.

Barnard's form means Crewe have called time on Chris Dickson's stay from Charlton. "Chris is a terrific and enthusiastic lad. We have been able to give him his league debut and I'm sure he will have learned from the experience," said Crewe first-team coach Steve Holland.

"But with Lee Barnard showing signs of forming a good partnership with Ryan Lowe, and Byron Moore coming back from injury, we are a lot more optimistic up front than we were a few weeks ago."