WEATHERMEN are worried about a drought yet for Andy Preece it never rains but it pours!

The Shakers manager has endured one of his longest weeks in football in the wake of last Saturday's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Rochdale.

News that should have given the squad an early pick-me-up - the signing of Leeds winger Harpal Singh on loan for the rest of the season - was turned on it's head 24-hours later when the player dislocated his shoulder in training.

And if that wasn't enough, a brace of suspensions and a couple of players on international duty mean Preece's squad is stretched to the limit ahead of tomorrow's game at Bristol Rovers.

Canadian twosome Terry Dunfield and Justin Thompson are in action for their country in Under-23 Olympic qualifying matches against El Salvador next week.

Meanwhile, striker Gareth Seddon and Paul O'Shaughnessy are the suspended duo, although the latter would have missed the trip to the south west after succumbing to the dreaded virus that has swept through the club.

"These things seem to be sent to test you," explained a philosophical Preece.

"After last week we are just looking forward to getting into a game.

"But it's a massive blow to lose Harpal, especially so soon after him signing for us.

"It was an innocuous clash in training that did it, it's just one of those things that can happen."

Singh seems certain to be out for six to eight weeks at least and will be visiting a specialist to have the injury scanned.

Hopefully, he won't need the joint pinning which could keep him out of action longer.

On the plus side Danny Swailes is back from suspension although there was doubt about his return after picking up a foot infection during the week.

Fortunately the problem is responding to antibiotics and he should be okay for tomorrow.

Long-term injury victims George Clegg and Matt Barrass are not yet fully match fit but may have to figure in some way or form at Bristol as could youngsters Daniel Douglas-Pringle, a striker and defender John Cartledge.

The game will be the last one on-loan Manchester City midfielder Glenn Whelan will play before he flies out to the United Arab Emirates to play for Eire U-21s in a FIFA Youth tournament.

But Preece is hoping he can take the talented youngster back after the competition ends late in December.

"It's a blow to lose Glenn but I'm very hopeful of him coming back," he said.

"He's enjoyed it with us and has got better and better in each game, you can see him improving.

"I'm sure we can sort something out but that is a month down the line and we are entering a critical period of the season for us.

"A lot of the teams we play over the next few weeks are in and around us in the table."

With two influential players such as Singh and Whelan missing in the coming weeks Preece admits he will endeavour to bring in a replacement.

"We'll need to be on top of our game over the next few weeks," he said.

"I'll be pushing to try and bring somebody in to keep us strong and give us that little bit of quality that Glenn does."

Tomorrow's opponents Bristol are a much improved outfit from last term and stand level with the Shakers on 23 points in the Third Division table, a fact not lost on Preece.

"Ray Graydon has turned the whole squad around after the struggle they had last season," he said.

"They will be a good side and, like us, will want to kick on towards the play-off places."