Langley gets a month to prove his fitness at Rovers

Richard Langley will be staying with Bristol Rovers for another month.

And coach Paul Trollope is hopeful that the Jamaican international can overcome niggling injury worries and prove he has a longer-term future with the Pirates.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who previously had spells with QPR, Cardiff City and Luton Town, had an extended trial spell with Rovers before signing a short-term deal for December.

He was on the bench for recent games against Hartlepool, Stockport and MK Dons but is still waiting to taste first-team action and was not included in the squad for the 0-0 draw at Northampton last Sunday.

"Richard is with us for another month until the end of January and trying to prove his fitness," said Trollope.

"We are pleased with what we have seen from him in training but he has experienced some tightness with his muscles, and that's the reason he wasn't involved on the bench at Northampton.

"It's a difficult time for him because he is desperate to prove his fitness and show his quality, but at the moment he is being hampered by soreness.

"We are working hard to eradicate the problems and hopefully he will be available for the game at Crewe next Tuesday."

This week's sub-zero temperatures mean Rovers have had to tweak their training schedule during a nine-day break from action.

But Trollope said the facilities at their Army base HQ in Colerne are a help when it comes to keeping the players busy.

"I would imagine most teams in the country will be finding it difficult this week, but at Colerne we have a great indoor facility and a swimming pool, which we will be using," said Trollope.

"We can get out and do some straight-line running even though the grass is frozen, but the size of the indoor facility means we can do a lot of ball work inside to keep the lads right.

"The fact there is a sprung floor as well means it's not too hard on the legs, which is good."

Rovers hope right-back David Pipe will return to training later in the week as he recovers from the ankle knock which saw him stretchered off during the Boxing Day clash with MK Dons.

Trollope is also hopeful that centre-backs Steve Elliott and Byron Anthony will recover from a bug going around the camp, which has also affected young striker Ben Hunt.