GARY ROBERTS is backing good pal Ian Craney to carry on driving Town up the League I table.

In the build-up to last Saturday’s 3-1 win at Swindon, it looked as if both players would be sidelined.

But ever-present Roberts got the green light after his Johnstone’s Paint Trophy red card at Darlington, which would have meant a three-match suspension, was rescinded on appeal.

Then Craney passed a late fitness test on the hamstring injury which forced him off during the 3-2 home defeat by Leicester the previous week.

The 26-year-old midfielder is set for a 10th league appearance since his £200,000 transfer from Accrington Stanley when Bristol Rovers visit tomorrow.

And fellow Scouser Roberts, who played alongside him at Accrington before the pair were reunited at Town, is delighted.

“Ian was gutted about his injury, and having had a similar one at Accrington, he was worried it would keep him sidelined for a while,” said the 24-year-old.

Roberts grabbed his fifth Town goal with a spectacular volley at the County Ground and believes Craney will add to his tally of two for Town and four for the season.

“Ian has already shown how effective he can be in front of goal, and I’m sure there’s more to come from him yet,” added the former Ipswich man.

Craney, who started out in Everton’s youth set-up but dropped into non-league football with Runcorn and Altrincham before helping Accrington into the Football League, scored against Wolves (in the Carling Cup) and Port Vale (in League II) for Stanley before his trans-Pennine switch.

He got Town’s winner at Cheltenham and also scored in the 1-1 draw at Oldham.

While 15th-placed Town are seeking back-to-back victories for the first time this season, Rovers, who are 11th, go for a hat trick of wins after following their 1-0 triumph at Colchester with a 2-1 home success over Orient.

They are without Danny Coles, who has a knee injury, while fellow centre-back Steve Elliott is struggling to overcome a calf problem.

That means coach Paul Trollope could go with former Kidderminster player Craig Hinton and Byron Anthony although Joe Jacobson, who is back from Wales Under 21 duty, can also play in central defence.

Like Town, Rovers have been using a 4-3-3 system of late.