FRESH worries over his injured ankle mean Mike Fowler misses Forest Green's must-win game at Gateshead tonight (7.45pm).

The Welsh midfielder has made late substitute appearances in Rovers' last two Blue Square Premier matches, seven months after suffering a career-threatening triple fracture, dislocation and ligament damage in a pre-season friendly against Exeter City.

Completion of the final 21 minutes against Luton Town last week was viewed as a huge step forward, but he woke up in pain the following morning and was sent to a specialist for an X-ray.

The results of that will not be known until tomorrow, but the sight of Fowler back on crutches will do little to raise his team-mates' spirits ahead of their five-hour coach trip to Tyneside.

That said, Rovers manager Dave Hockaday is refusing to rule the 28-year-old out of his plans for the season altogether.

Hockaday said: "People are saying 'that's it' as far as Mike is concerned, but until he sees the specialist again on Wednesday it would be wrong to speculate.

"He felt very sore the day after Luton and he was sent for a precautionary X-ray. We know no more than that.

"It may be that he tried to do too much too soon."

For now, Hockaday and his players must focus entirely on closing the five-point gap between themselves and Gateshead in the magic 20th spot.

While Rovers could enjoy a rare free Saturday due to Barrow's FA Trophy commitments, the Heed were on the end of an 8-0 hammering by Rushden and Diamonds.

A good time to be making the mammoth trip? Not necessarily according to Hockaday.

"There is no way Gateshead will lose 8-0 twice on the bounce – there is bound to be a reaction," he said.

"Obviously a result like that will have hurt them, but we can only take advantage if we're right at it for 90-plus minutes.

"We have 11 games left and we need to try to win them all, simple as that.

"Of course it's a huge game, but if we beat Gateshead it doesn't mean we're staying up and if we lose it doesn't mean we're down."

Hockaday should be able to call on the services of central defender Mark Preece, who missed the Luton defeat with a calf injury, but Lee Ayres (groin) remains on the sidelines with Fowler.

Gateshead can also bolster their backline in the shape of James Curts, back after a two-match ban.