Rovers chief O’Driscoll rescues Burge from Spanish backwaters

Burge, 23, was released by the Premier League club three years ago and drifted around the lower leagues before heading to Spain. After improving his game under former England midfield man and coach Hoddle, he joined Jerez Industrial CF where his performances this season have helped the club mount a push for promotion from the Spanish fourth division.

Explaining the move, Rovers manager Sean O’Driscoll said: “Technically, Ryan is very good and, financially, people like that don’t break the bank.

“If you are not going to produce your own players you need to look around and see if you can pinch one or two.

“If you put the time and effort into them, they sometimes come up trumps.”

O’Driscoll picked defender Mustapha Dumbuya off the footballing scrapheap last season and the player, currently out injured, is now regarded as a key part of the Rovers side.

Burge is unlikely to be involved in tonight’s game with Burnley due to a delay in processing his international clearance.

He is the third new midfield man to join Rovers in the last 10 days following the arrival of Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Mason and former Leeds United youngster Paul Keegan from Irish club Bohemians.

Rovers have been blighted by a lengthy injury list this season and O’Driscoll was forced into the transfer market after losing midfielders Martin Woods, Brian Stock and Mark Wilson in the last few weeks.

The influential Stock, however, could be back in contention for tonight’s game where Rovers are seeking to halt a run of four consecutive defeats.

Loan signing Matthew Kilgallon is ruled out after suffering a hamstring strain in last week’s defeat against Barnsley and central defenders Wayne Thomas and Shelton Martis remain on the sidelines.

Rovers have slipped from a healthy position in the play-off race and now occupy a spot closer to the bottom three than the top six but, significantly, have two games in hand on the majority of clubs.

Burnley are set to give a debut to striker Charlie Austin, who became new manager Eddie Howe’s first signing last week from Swindon Town.

A former builder, Austin, 21, only turned professional two summers ago but has scored 37 times in 65 games for the Wiltshire club and was also a target for Hull City and Ipswich Town.

The Clarets are unbeaten in their last five games and are five points behind sixth-placed Leeds in the Championship table with a game in hand. In their last League match they won at Portsmouth.

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Last six games: Rovers DDLLLL, Burnley LWDDWW.

Last time: Rovers 2 Burnley 1; December 28, 2008, Championship.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).