Anssi Jaakkola is set to start his first game for Bristol Rovers in nearly six months after James Belshaw was ruled out of Saturday's trip to Sutton United with a leg injury.
Belshaw required treatment in stoppage time of last Saturday's 1-0 win over Walsall after a seemingly innocuous incident. The 31-year-old had attempted to take a goal kick but pulled up before striking the ball and dropped to the ground.
He was assessed by Rovers' medical staff and was able to complete the remainder of the game, but centre-back Connor Taylor was required to take the goal kick.
With 18-year-old Jed Ward recalled from his loan at Swindon Supermarine as injury cover, Barton has revealed that Belshaw's injury isn't as severe as first feared but the weekend fixture at Gander Green Lane comes too soon for him.
"Belly's had a bit of good news in terms of what we thought it could have been," Barton said. "We had a few scares after we had the scans and being looked at by the specialist but, thankfully, the prognosis seems to be really, really good.
"The weekend's game is probably going to be too soon for Belly but luckily for us we have a Finnish international in Anssi Jaakkola who's been chomping at the bit, waiting for an opportunity but such has been Belly's great form, it's been tough for him.
"An opportunity has presented itself and we're lucky in that regard that we have two first-class keeper and a really good young prospect in Jed who was getting much-needed minutes but will have to come back and help the first team."
Jaakkola's last outing for Rovers was the 2-0 home defeat to Stevenage on August 14 with the 34-year-old then suffering with shoulder and Achilles problems, issued that date back to the end of 2020.
Having returned to training around Christmas, the Finland international, who has been Rovers' No1 for the previous two seasons, has been part of the matchday squad for Rovers' last four fixtures and will now be given his chance on Saturday.
"I think he would rather it be via form but in football that's not always the way it goes," Barton added. "He's been fit for a period and it's been great for his body to have that spell of training and now a first-team opportunity presents itself. It's tough to find keepers of Belly's quality but we're fortunate that we've got two."
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