ROVERS boss Rod Brown is hoping to plug the gap left by Nathan Lamey’s return to Rushall Olympic by completing the capture of Walsall youngster James Travis.

A deal for the 18-year-old striker, who has been recommended to the Greens by Saddlers youth team director Mick Halsall, could be done in time for Saturday’s home game against Chasetown.

Travis will add much-needed depth to Rovers’ forward line after Lamey was recalled by Rushall after just four games.

Brown is also keeping tabs on Redditch United striker Richard Ball, who has finally recovered from a long-term injury sustained while on loan at Rovers last season.

The manager said: “James is a big striker who has been recommended to us by Mick Halsall.

“He has the ability to go past people, but he is very young and very raw.

“Nathan has gone back to Rushall as they wanted him back and he had only agreed to help me out.”

There is slightly better news on the injury front for Rovers.

Fears that Jamie Barrett had picked up ankle ligament damage were eased, as it turned out he had only suffered a strain.

Centre-back Barry Woolley is also nearing full fitness, although he must serve a one-match suspension this Saturday following his red card against Marlow.

However, Brown hopes to have the defender back in time for next Tuesday’s league trip to Rothwell Town.

Having seen the Stourbridge tie postponed last Tuesday night as well as Saturday’s visit to Aylesbury falling victim to the weather, Brown admitted he was grateful for the chance to let his side regroup after back-to-back defeats.

He added: “I was grateful for the break as I don’t think we played well against Atherstone, although we were struggling and they were at the top of their game.

“Against Marlow we were awful in the first-half.”

Striker Jermaine Clarke, who returned to the fold for last night’s Birmingham Senior Cup clash with Stourbridge, is the subject of an approach from Rovers’ BGB Midlands One rivals Romulus.

Roms’ joint boss Richard Evans admitted earlier this week he was a fan of Clarke and needs another forward to take the pressure off top goalscorer Tyrone Fagan.