BRIAN Horton faces some major selection problems as he takes his injury-ravaged Silkmen side down to Bristol Rovers this weekend.

Matt Tipton, Tony Barras, Neil McKenzie, Mark Bailey and Steve Payne were on the injured list as Express Sport went to press - and Horton said he could be forced to change his favoured 4-3-3 system to accommodate the enforced changes.

"At this time of the season injuries and suspensions kick in, and they really cause problems when you have got a small squad," he told us.

"We are going to change the formation tonight (Tuesday) and look at what we have got at the weekend."

Horton has been scouring for signings since last week, and said he is waiting for a response on one front.

"We made a bid last week and the club haven't been back to us.

"They don't want to let the player go, but I don't think it's dead in the water yet."

Last season's top scorer Matt Tipton has been left on the bench for the last three games because of a bruised foot which has hampered his training, said Horton, and not because of a lack of form.

"Tippy got a knock on the foot that we didn't make much of after the Mansfield game, but it has affected him ever since.

"He'll be on the bench tonight, and we'll see what happens from there."