RETURNING defender Tommy Spurr will not be risked in tonight’s U21s Premier League encounter with Arsenal at Boreham Wood FC (7pm).

The left back was set to be named in Rovers’ starting line-up for the clash with a Gunners side expected to feature fit-again England forward Theo Walcott.

But Spurr will remain at Brockhall after feeling a pain in his groin during training this week.

The fans’ favourite has been sidelined since the start of the campaign with a different, more serious, groin problem to the one that ruled him out of the final three games of last season.

He did make his comeback by playing 45 minutes for the U21s late last month.

But he will play no part against Arsenal tonight after Gary Bowyer decided to err on the side of caution.

Rovers boss Bowyer said: “Tommy we’re being a little careful with.

“He was scheduled to be involved on Friday night but we’ve decided to keep him here.”

Bowyer also revealed that striker Chris Brown is set to go back out on to the grass on Monday with Rovers’ strength and conditioning team ahead of a return to training alongside the rest of his team-mates.

The summer signing from Doncaster has yet to kick a ball for the club after he underwent an operation last month to clear up the knee injury that had troubled him since pre-season.

Bowyer said: “He won’t be outside with us, he’ll be with the fitness lads first, and then we’ll see after that.

“But he’s progressing ever so well.”