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Three To Watch: Bristol Rovers - Will these players trouble Sunderland tonight?

With a handful of dangerous attacking players potentially missing for The Gas tonight, who are the Bristol Rovers players to watch out for?

Bristol Rovers v Coventry City - FA Cup Third Round Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images

Jayden Mitchell-Lawson

19/20 Goals/Games: 8/2

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is currently on loan from Derby County and is highly-rated at Pride Park.

Although he has struggled for game time at the Memorial Stadium, the youngster managed to score his second Rovers goal in their defeat at Southend United on Saturday, despite being played out of position.

Energetic and skillful, Mitchell-Lawson continued to show progress at Derby with their Under-23s and he made his first-team debut in March 2019 as he came off the bench in a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City under then-manager Frank Lampard.

He’s likely to continue for Ben Garner’s side tonight if both Jonson Clarke-Harris and Josh Ginnelly are likely to miss out.

Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers - Sky Bet League One - Adams Park Photo by Daniel Hambury/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

Tony Craig

19/20 Goals/Games: 8/0

Vastly experienced at both Championship and League One level, Craig is approaching his 35th birthday, but shows no signs of stopping just yet.

Into his third season at Bristol Rovers, the defender has been promoted three times from the third tier - twice with Millwall, and once with Brentford - so knows the division as well as another in Garner’s squad.

He’s played more minutes than any other player in the Gas squad, surpassing 3500 minutes already and he will be hoping to roll back the years tonight and nullify Kyle Lafferty.

Bristol Rovers v Sunderland - Checkatrade Trophy Semi Final Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Ollie Clarke

19/20 Goals/Games: 32/1

Clarke has been with the Gas since he was a teenager; a graduate of their youth academy, he first broke into the first-team in 2013.

Tough in the tackle but with a keen eye for goal, Clarke was vital to Rovers staying in the division last year, and, though he’s not quite hit the heights of last season, he is still a vital cog in their midfield.

An all-action midfielder, Clarke has already picked up eight bookings this term and will be tasked with the role of winning back possession in the centre of the park.

Equally, he has the ability to nip in behind the opposition back four and nab a goal if he’s allowed to roam too far up the field. He’s also be dangerous from range, too, if given time and space.

Bristol Rovers v Accrington Stanley - Sky Bet League One - Memorial Stadium Photo by Steven Paston/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

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