TONY Parkes is considering a swoop in the January sales in order to solve his side's goalkeeping crisis.

Rovers' battling 2-1 victory at Portsmouth yesterday was marred by an injury to Alan Kelly, which is likely to rule the Republic of Ireland international out for up to six weeks.

And, with current number two John Filan also nursing a shoulder problem at present, that leaves Parkes with only one senior keeper available in Alan Fettis.

Kelly was stretchered off after damaging ankle ligaments in a 60th minute clash with Pompey's burly defender Darren Moore yesterday.

And the former Sheffield United man was set to have an X-ray today to find out the full extent of the damage.

That left Parkes facing an anxious wait over the fitness of Filan who was also due to have further treatment on his shoulder problem today.

And if the injury does not respond in the next couple of days, then Parkes may decide to swoop.

"We'll have to keep an eye on the goalkeeping situation and if we need to get a keeper in, then we'll get one in," said Parkes.

"Alan's got ankle ligament damage and it's badly swollen so it looks as though he's going to be missing for four to six weeks.

"And we'll have to see how John Filan is because he has an injection today to see if it will settle his shoulder down.

"So we'll know more over the next two or three days on how that's going to be."

Kelly, however, is keen to get back as quickly as possible after making the number one spot his own during the last 12 games. And the 31-year-old believes the situation will look brighter once the swelling goes down. "It's very swollen at the minute," said Kelly.

"I'm getting it X-rayed today but I don't think anything's broken.

"So hopefully I won't be out for too long.

"The physio has told me we'll know more on Thursday or Friday once the swelling has gone down.

"And, generally, I'm a quick healer anyway.

"But it's one of those unfortunate things. I jumped with their defender for a cross and when we fell I landed on his foot."

Kelly's injury blow is Rovers' second serious set back in the space of three days.

Striker Ashley Ward also faces six weeks on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder in a similar incident during Sunday's victory over Nottingham Forest.

And with Per Frandsen becoming the latest Ewood star to be struck down with flu, Parkes found his resources stretched at struggling Pompey.

But despite a reshuffle, the Rovers bandwagon rolls on as goals from Christian Dailly and Egil Ostenstad on the south coast secured the club's sixth victory in 10 league games under Parkes.

And the club will go into the next Millennium in seventh place - right on the coat tails of the leading pack.

"We had to make one or two changes through injury and illness but I thought the lads were tremendous and we deserved the win," said Parkes. "They were always going to cause us problems from set plays because we didn't have the height we usually have.

"So we were struggling a little bit to contain them.

"And after going 1-0 down so early on, you can always fold a little bit away from home.

"But the lads were strong and they came through it.

"So we are going okay at the minute.

"We are picking points up, climbing up the league and the top six are coming closer to us now.

"It's a good run and, obviously, the players have responded to what has happened.

"There's a fighting spirit and a togetherness in the club at the moment which is gaining us results. But we haven't achieved anything yet."

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