Paul Heffernan will remain a Bristol Rovers player until at least the end of the season.

The Pirates have struck a deal with the striker's parent club Doncaster Rovers to extend the 28-year-old marksman's initial one-month stay at the Memorial Stadium until May 8.

And if things continue to go well, Rovers may well look at making the Dubliner's stay in the West Country a more permanent one.

Heffernan's contract with the Yorkshire club is up at the end of the current campaign and he has already said he would be open to offers in a bid to secure his long-term future.

"It's great that we are able to keep Paul until the end of the season," said Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope.

"He has fitted in well with how we do things, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, and there's no doubt he has helped to improve us in the time he has been with us so far."

Heffernan, who had previous spells at Notts County and Bristol City, has scored two goals in six outings for the Pirates so far.

He played a major part in their biggest win of the season so far last weekend, scoring one goal and helping to set up

another for strike partner Jo Kuffour in the 4-0 West Country derby win at Swindon Town.

Heffernan's initial loan spell expires tomorrow, but the extension will take him through to the final day of the scheduled season when Rovers visit Leeds United.

But he would not be available should Rovers succeed in making a late charge to the play-offs as loan deals are limited to a maximum of 93 days.

Meanwhile, Rovers could renew their attempt to land West Bromwich Albion marksman Chris Wood on loan later this week.

The Pirates' hopes of recruiting the 6ft 3ins New Zealand international have been held up because the Baggies have had injury worries about a number of their own strikers.

Former Swindon forward Simon Cox took a knock late in their 3-1 defeat by QPR at the weekend. But providing that does not prove a long-term problem, Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo may now be more receptive to parting with his 18-year-old target man as he has Ishmael Miller available again following an ankle problem.

Wood is not expected to be involved in the Albion squad to face Sheffield Wednesday tonight.

Rovers striker Darryl Duffy looks like having his loan spell with Carlisle United interrupted by injury.

The Scottish marksman, who has joined the Cumbrians until the end of the season, is having a scan on a groin injury which forced him out of their 0-0 weekend draw with Wycombe before the interval.

Duffy, who has scored once in eight outings for Carlisle so far, has already been ruled out of tonight's game against Milwall.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott said: "It is still giving him some discomfort, so we will get him scanned to see what is going on."