Bristol Rovers head coach Steve Evans has provided an update on the fitness of several players ahead of the trip to BarrowPromise Omochere of Bristol Rovers is tackled by Tom Barkhuizen of Barrow during the EFL League Two match between Bristol Rovers and Barrow at The Memorial Stadium on 13 September 2025 in Bristol, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)Promise Omochere of Bristol Rovers is tackled by Tom Barkhuizen of Barrow during the EFL League Two match between Bristol Rovers and Barrow at The Memorial Stadium on 13 September 2025 in Bristol, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)(Image: Bristol Post)

Bristol Rovers started 2026 perfectly with a 3-0 win against Shrewsbury Town to move four points clear of the League Two relegation zone. But at the end of a hectic festive period, they are quickly back in action, with a trip to Barrow on Sunday 4th January – the fourth game in nine days.

A victory at the SO Legal Stadium would put the Gas level on points with Barrow, with a nine-day break until they are back in action in the Vertu Trophy on January 13.

Ahead of the second game of 2026, Steve Evans provided an update on the fitness of the likes of Callum Morton, Promise Omochere, Kacper Lopata, and Josh McEachran. And after the defeat against Barnet, he also discussed Macauley Southam Hales, who has been out since the 1-0 defeat against Notts County.

READ MORE: Bristol Rovers reportedly agree deal to sign Peterborough United’s Ryan de HavillandREAD MORE: Hussain Al Saeed interview notebook: Bristol Rovers chairman on The Mem Redevelopment, Steve Evans, and long-term strategyCallum Morton – Update on 1st January 2026

“Callum’s out until mid-January. I think we know that now. Callum would love to stay. We have to see how he comes back from his little niggle, and then we have to consider who we’ve brought in before because of course we’re going to bring in, in the attacking areas.”

(Image: Getty Images)Promise Omochere – Update on 1st January 2026

“Yeah, Promise is getting nearer every day. You could see Ellis [Harrison] is on the bench today. I think the plan today ideally would have been Ellis would have got on the pitch for 20 minutes, but I think we were so far in control of the game at Shrewsbury, then Ellis can sit besides me.”

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Kacper Lopata – Update on 1st January 2026

“No, he just felt his hamstring a little bit. He’s not had a lot of action, obviously, he’s been suspended and out. We don’t think it’s too serious. We think there was a little bit of fatigue in there and because he’d been wholeheartedly giving everything for the first 20 minutes back at Shrewsbury.

“So, we’ll see how he is, and we’ll give him a day or so to recover.”

Kacper Lopata of Bristol Rovers looks dejected after conceding a second goal during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town at Memorial Stadium on 13 December 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUKKacper Lopata of Bristol Rovers looks dejected after conceding a second goal during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town at Memorial Stadium on 13 December 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)Josh McEachran – Update on 1st January 2026

“Yeah, Josh is fine. There’s no excuses with Josh. He said he’s fine. He’s not going to be ready for Barrow. We’ve got an eye on Plymouth [Argyle] for him.”

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Macauley Southam-Hales – Update on 29th January 2025

“Yeah, he’s a little bit away. We’re very frustrated. You know, we’re sitting here, and our main strikers, if you like, are still wrapped up in the medical department.

“So you know, obviously, Joel Senior has come back into the plan tonight. So we’re scraping and scratching for fit players to come back and be available to us.

(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

“And hopefully the players we bring in will be up and running and ready to play because we don’t have three, four, five, six weeks to get them ready to play. They have to be ready to play.”

READ MORE: Steve Cotterill on Isaac Hutchinson as Bristol Rovers ponder January recall

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