TRANMERE goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams faces two months on the sidelines following surgery to his broken hand – and that should provide loan signing Paul Rachubka with an opportunity to re-establish his first team credentials on a temporary assignment at Prenton Park.

Welshman Fon Williams, an ever present in the Rovers side until last week, underwent an operation this week in which the bones of the broken hand were wired.

Manager Les Parry explained: "You can try to treat an injury like this conservatively but because of the movement, it might not heal properly. When it is wired you can almost guarantee that the bones will unite properly."

He added: "Fonners will be in a cast for four weeks, then out of the cast for two weeks before he can do anything. Then he can start work. We're probably looking at six weeks to training and two weeks after that before he can play."

Rachubka's arrival on a month's loan from Leeds United Šmay have been rushed through in an emergency just before Thursday's deadline for loan signings, Šbut the American goalkeeper was a long-term target for Tranmere, Parry has revealed.

Rachubka's background of experience – more than 250 games in all four English divisions – made him an attractive proposition when Rovers were looking to sign a senior goalkeeper on a permanent basis during the summer.

The 30-year-old from California, released at the end of four-year spell with Blackpool, chose a move to Leeds rather than Tranmere but now he may be in line to spend longer than a month on the Wirral.