Steve Brooker is prepared to put his love for Bristol City to one side if it means he can rebuild his career.

Surplus to requirements at Ashton Gate, City's injury-prone striker has joined Championship club Doncaster Rovers on loan in a bid to regain match fitness.

And he is resigned to leaving Bristol for good when the January transfer window opens five weeks from now.

If Brooker remains free of further injury and impresses Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll, his move north will almost certainly become permanent.

Although there will always be a place in his heart for City, Brooker admits he is in need of a new challenge to revive a playing career which has stuttered in recent seasons.

He said: "I've had to face up to the fact it's probably time for me to move on.

"I'll feel sad about not playing for Bristol City, but sometimes moving is for the best.

"It's been a frustrating time for me and I seem to have been fighting injuries forever. I think it's time for a new challenge and we'll see if a change of club can bring a change in my luck as well."

City manager Gary Johnson wants to cash in on the former Port Vale striker, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

He revealed: "Steve will have a medical at the end of December and, if he is fully fit, his loan to Doncaster will probably become a permanent deal.

"He'll either stay up there or, if he gets injured, come back to us."

Explaining his decision to allow Brooker to leave, Johnson added: "We have to run the football club as a business.

"We're not in a position where we can offer two year contracts to someone who might only play a handful of games.

"We've had a lot of inquiries for Brooks, but other managers have been put off by his injury record."

Brooker has slipped down the Ashton Gate pecking order since the arrival of Nicky Maynard, Stern John and John Akinde and his prospects of featuring in City's first team in future are virtually non-existent.

Brooker confirmed: "I've had a chat with the manager and it doesn't look like there will be anything for me here.

"I have to look to the future now and it looks as though that is going to be somewhere else."