Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope last night talked of how difficult it has been to try to find a replacement for Rickie Lambert as the season-long search for a targetman goes on.

Trollope and director of football Lennie Lawrence have been scouring the transfer market in a bid to replace former fans' favourite Lambert since his £1 million departure to Southampton at the start of the campaign.

The duo have since brought in Charlton striker Chris Dickson for a brief loan spell, and have signed Doncaster marksman Paul Heffernan until the end of the campaign.

Trollope is still hopeful of adding a robust striker to the ranks before next Thursday's transfer deadline – but has explained that it has not been easy to try to find a player capable of filling the void vacated by Lambert.

He said: "It has been well- documented that we are looking for a certain type of player.

"We sold the best one in the league (Lambert) early in the season and he has gone on to do well (for Southampton). Trying to replace him is not easy because we have looked long and hard since he left.

"We don't advertise everything we do, but we have been working hard and did go close on a number of occasions during January.

"It has been frustrating at times, because sometimes we do need a different option up there. We don't want to take anything away from the players who are in the building at the moment, because all of them have contributed to some good wins for us over the last few months."

Trollope is understood to have targeted West Brom striker Chris Wood and was spotted running the rule over Swansea City striker Besian Idrizaj at a reserve game in Swindon last week – but confirmed it was 'unlikely' that a new face would arrive before the start of next week.

"We'll keep looking but we are not going to rush in to anything or be hasty if the player is not going to make us any better," he said.

"We are not going to force the issue. We have two quality strikers in Jo Kuffour and Paul Heffernan, and Andy Williams has made an impact when he has come in."

Kuffour, meanwhile, missed training yesterday after suffering with a migraine problem. Trollope is hopeful the nine-goal striker will be fit to face Exeter City at St James Park tomorrow night.

Defender Byron Anthony has got an 'outside' chance of featuring – despite being carried off with a leg injury during Saturday's goal-less draw with Tranmere.

An X-ray showed no break to his fibula following a Bas Savage challenge, and Trollope said: "It has been good news. Nothing showed up on the precautionary X-ray, and things have progressed well since.

"Byron has done all the right things and can put weight on it. There is an outside chance he could play. We are pleased with his form and are hoping to have him available."

Carl Regan has stepped up his rehabilitation from tendonitis and could also be available to play at right-back should Anthony fail to make it in time.

On-loan midfielder Wayne Brown has been recalled by Fulham.