Striker Rees out with knee injury and Rijks signed

Forest Green Rovers striker Ricardo Rees is facing five to seven months on the sidelines due to a posterior cruciate ligament injury. The 26-year-old went off in the 33rd minute of Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Carlisle United with the injury. The National League club have signed Bristol Rovers striker Mees Rijks on a three-month loan deal to provide cover. The 23-year-old joined the League Two side in January and has played 15 games, including two cup appearances this season. Rees has scored three goals in eight league games for Forest Green this season and Forest Green boss Robbie Savage said his loss was a "huge blow". "Five to seven months out [we've] lost him, so it's a huge blow," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "Three goals, three assists, [then] an innocuous ball on his knee. He's ruptured a ligament in his knee so it's going to be braced up for five months, no operation. "It's a huge blow for the kid. I'm devastated for him, devastated for us, but he's a strong character, he'll be back." Savage added that Rees' absence, compounded with other injuries and the upcoming international window, means the club had no option but to bring in another loanee. Forwards D'Mani Mellor and Kairo Mitchell, midfielder Kyle Kelly and defender Filozofe Mabete are all unavailable for the next three games after receiving international call-ups. Centre-back Emeka Obi is set to miss the entire campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and fellow defender Kyle Ajayi is also unavailable with injury, while forward Jose Marquez is on loan at Worthing. "We've brought in a player from Bristol Rovers, Mees Rijks, 23 years of age and we've worked really quickly," Savage said. "He's a profile of striker which we've not had, holds the ball up, runs channels, aggressive. We've got a brilliant set of forwards in D'Mani and Kairo and Ricardo but unfortunately they're not going to be here."