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" It's a couple of big games for us. What makes them big is that there's a possibility we could get something out of both of them. Oldham will be a difficult game because our away results aren't fantastic. We're going to try to address that. We're going there with a point so if we can keep hold of that at least that would be a great result. Then we play Carlisle who I think have won five out of their last six so are in form. That will be a difficult home game, but what makes it exciting is that there is a chance we could get something from both games.
" We are looking to strengthen the squad and like everyone we are looking for a six-foot-two striker who can hold the ball up and is quick. But we really need to strengthen our defence. I wasn't happy that I had to play Ash Taylor at centre-back when Marlon Broomes was suspended last weekend. I prefer to play Ash in front of the back four. Everyone knows we have a lot of midfield players and a lot of forwards. So unless someone comes in for one of those, we can't bring anyone in anyway.
" A new physiotherapist coming in in January is going to make a massive difference on both sides. We can't kid ourselves because the injured players have been neglected. We have been lucky in not having too many injured lads so we have been able to get away with it. Someone coming in will be able to dedicate all of their time to the injured players. The time I dedicate to the injured I will be able to relocate to organisational matters.
" Bas Savage is still a number of weeks away from being able to play again but he reached the stage where he needed a lift. We gave him that lift by including him in training. He has done ever so well. He is doing everything the lads do - although he still lapses into a limp now and again. But it is good for his own confidence that he is training. He has got a little spring back into his step.
" Psychology is a massive part of it with someone like Bas - because he is a psychological nightmare! Psychologically Bas is just as you see him on the pitch - all over the place. Giving him focus is important. It is probably the most important part of his rehabilitation. The next job is getting a spring back into his step and power back into his legs. That takes a little longer. It will be lovely to have him back. I will have a lump in my throat when we are able to involve him again. But we are not going to rush Bas because it is too much of a risk.
" We play Wolves soon after so we have got very similar games, OK, theirs is at Goodison Park I think so it is a bigger crowd for them and it is slightly different. So you can question for both sides whether it is going to affect us and it may affect both of us, it may affect neither of us.
" Hopefully our lads will just be focused on the Carlisle game and getting the three points, it is nice that we haven't got a game midweek so we have got a whole week, and we are playing on the Sunday. So we have got six days to get over the Carlisle game, so hopefully it is not close enough to affect the lads.
" It does go both ways on players putting effort into the Carlisle game ahead of the Wolves game and if they don't perform against Carlisle then they won't play against Wolves, it is as simple as that. So if any of the lads think that they can just stay out of tackles and not put the effort in then somebody else will come in against Wolves who will put a tackle in and put the effort in. "
Meanwhile Rovers right-back Shaleum Logan, who was sent off at Brunton Park earlier in the season after picking up two bookings in about 30 seconds on the stroke of half-time commented to the Echo :
" I'm not worried about the rest of the season, I think we will get out of trouble. We are where we are in the table now because of the way we played earlier this season. But we have been moving in the right direction over the last couple of months. We are playing in a totally different way now to the way we played under John Barnes. The lads are working hard and working for each other.
" I think Les Parry is doing the right things and taking us in the right direction. It was a bit of a shock for the lads when Les first took over from John Barnes. But he has done well enough to keep the job and everyone is happy with him. Confidence among the lads is good. We never worried too much because there were a lot of games when we played well without getting anything for it. We knew the results would turn our way and they have done. I think we have been unlucky not to have picked up a few more points along the way."
" I feel that if I'm to progress in my career, this is a season when I need to play 30 or 40 games. I have not done that over the last couple of years but I'm on course to do it this time. We did not have the best of starts but the way things are now I'm happy to stay. I think I'm playing well. I did not help the lads in the away game at Carlisle earlier in the season by getting sent off. So I would like to put that right. "
And former Carlisle-loanee John Welsh told the Echo :
" I think you can tell by the performances that the lads are feeling confident. At the moment all we want to do is keep on picking up points so we can climb away from those relegation places. That is why I think we can stay up this season, you only have to look at the talent in the squad. It's not just that players who are in the team at the moment, it's the ones waiting to come in off the bench.
" The ability is there and the work ethic is there as well. I think we have the basics in place to be a good League One team. I think it's just a matter of time before we are out of trouble. I can't put a finger on why the results have not been so good away from home. We have certainly been playing better than the results would suggest but we don't seem to be able to pick up the points. I think we have to keep faith with the way we are playing and find that bit extra in the away performances.
" If you look at the talent that we have got within the squad, even the lads that are waiting to come in off the bench. There is talent right throughout the squad and the work ethic is there so we have got the basis of being a good League One team. I am sure it is a matter of time before we are out of there.
" We didn't have a very good game up at Carlisle but they have got to come here, we are doing well at home so we have got to look to take three points off them. I don't think each side having an FA Cup tie afterwards will add much, our main concern is obviously the league but I am looking forward to that Wolves game. We try to take it game by game and take each team as it comes but I am sure the lads will have one eye on the Wolves game and it is a massive game. "
Tranmere only have two players missing through injury tomorrow, the pair being midfielder Alan Mahon and giant striker Bas Savage. Mahon has been absent for over four weeks now with torn ligaments in his right ankle, while Savage has been out of action for nearly nine months with a ruptured Achilles tendon that he suffered in a 3-1 defeat at Leeds last April.
Better news for Rovers though is that experienced centre-back Marlon Broomes is available again after missing Tranmere's 2-0 home win over Bristol Rovers nine days ago, Broomes serving out a one-match suspension in that game.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Phil Gibbs from Birmingham, and he will be assisted down the lines by Matthew Dicicco from Middlesbrough and Ryan Johnson from Manchester. Meanwhile the fourth official is John Magill from Colchester.
One of the first jobs for Gibbs tomorrow will be to no doubt inspect the Prenton Park playing surface in these particularly wintry conditions, the last word on the pitch on the official Rovers website coming on Christmas Eve :
" Like much of the Wirral, there is currently a light covering of snow on the pitch at Prenton Park. However, temperatures are forecast to rise over the next few days and the frost is slowly coming out of the pitch. As a result, the Club is optimistic that playing conditions will be fine for Monday's home game against Carlisle United (kick off 3pm). "