The names of several wingers have been linked with Rovers ahead of the January transfer window which have become more pertinent following the injury to Leeds United loanee Ian Poveda.

Rovers failed to add to a striker in the summer window as an agreed loan move for Bordeaux striker Josh Maja fell through because of injury, with the 22-year-old still yet to feature this season because of that back issue.

Poveda and Brighton loanee Reda Khadra were brought in on season-long loan deals as the two players to strengthen Rovers’ attacking ranks following the departure of Adam Armstrong and return to Liverpool of Harvey Elliott.

Both scored their first goals of the season against Sheffield United and kept their places for the game at Bristol City.

However, Poveda left the field on a stretcher, with his left leg in his brace, with Rovers fearing an extended lay-off with ankle ligament damage.

While the club will hope for positive news on the 21-year-old they are casting their net wide in a bid to strengthen their attacking ranks when the transfer window re-opens in the New Year.

Having previously been keen on Portsmouth’s Ronan Curtis, their focus appears to have switched to fellow Fratton Park man Marcus Harness.

Sources on the south coast say Rovers have looked at the 25-year-old who scored for a third game running in the weekend win over AFC Wimbledon to take him to eight goals this season.

Harness is into the final months of the deal he signed when joining from Burton Albion in 2019, although Pompey do possess a one-year option to extend.

Another said to be on the radar is Lincoln City’s Anthony Scully. Rovers poached the Imps’ left back Tayo Edun in the summer for an initial £400,000, with winger Scully now of interest.

Scully has now scored 30 goals for the club, including 11 of this season, and has built a reputation as one of the third tier’s most promising talents.

Having looked at Ryan Hedges of Aberdeen in the summer, and the prospect of a pre-contract offer being looked at, there is no shortage of options being looked at.

Rotherham United’s Chiedozie Ogbene has impressed for his club as well as Republic of Ireland, scoring in wins over Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, and is also into the final months of his deal with the League One promotion chasers.

The third tier has proven to be a market to target for Rovers this year, moving for Harry Pickering from Crewe Alexandra in January and then Edun in the summer.

Strengthening in attack looks to be Rovers’ most pressing issue in the New Year, not least given the continued uncertainty around the future of top scorer Ben Brereton whose standing continues to rise after scoring his 14th of the season in the draw at Bristol City.