Rovers hit by loss of loan striker Fortune after recall by Baggies

Albion manager Roy Hodgson has also recalled Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara from Brighton and Hove Albion and midfielder George Thorne from Portsmouth, both Championship rivals for Rovers.

“We do need these players,” said Hodgson. “It was a calculated risk to let those players go out on loan.

“We worked on the basis that the games and the experience would be so good for them that it was worth taking the risk we would leave ourselves short during that period of time.

“But we always had the intention, coming up to this busy Christmas and New Year period, that we would probably want them back again and the clubs we loaned them to were aware.

“It’s more a case of prudence and covering our own needs rather than being in any kind of dire trouble.”

Rovers suffered a further setback yesterday when winger Dean Shiels returned from Scottish club Kilmarnock nursing a suspected broken ankle.

Shiels joined Kilmarnock – who are managed by his father Kenny – at the start of the season and was poised to sign a permanent deal next month.

The 26-year-old picked up the injury during his side’s 1-1 draw against Dundee United last weekend.

n World Cup final referee Howard Webb was yesterday included on the 12-man list to officiate at Euro 2012 next summer.

Rotherham-born Webb, who was criticised for his handling of the tempestuous 2010 World Cup final between Spain and Holland in South Africa, will be joined by Scotland’s Craig Thomson in Poland and Ukraine.

Hungarian Viktor Kassai, who refereed Barcelona’s 2011 Champions League final victory over Manchester United, is also included alongside experienced German Wolfgang Stark.