Inigo Calderon has confirmed that Clinton Mola's absence from Bristol Rovers' squad to face Ipswich Town on Sunday was due to selection reasons as opposed to an injury.

The 23-year-old defender hasn't featured for the Gas since Calderon's first game in charge, a 3-0 defeat at Stevenage, and has been absent from the last two matchday squads having been an unused substitute in the 3-2 loss to Leyton Orient on New Year's Day.

Joining on a free transfer after leaving Reading in the summer, Mola enjoyed an outstanding start to life at Rovers and was a regular starter under previous manager Matt Taylor, who once said in an interview that the summer signing was Championship standard. However, the defender, who has played at both left-back and centre-back this season, has experienced a notable drop in form over the past two months.

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When asked about the former Royals defender's latest absence, Calderon told Bristol Live: "Because we have too many players. Well, not too many. We have the players. We have to name the better [ones] for the game and that was the ones that were [selected] today.

"Not injured, no," he added.

The Gas ended up losing 3-0 at Portman Road as Premier League Ipswich scored three first half goals to knock Rovers out of the FA Cup at the third round stage.

Teenage Aston Villa loanee Lino Sousa started at left-back for the third consecutive game while Bryant Bilongo was included on the bench as an alternative option.

Having started 23 games across all competitions, the Orient defeat was the first time Mola hadn't featured in a non-EFL Trophy match this season with the defender brought on off the bench twice.

Following his first four matches in charge, it appears as though Calderon is set on playing with a four-man defence which, when used under Taylor, would have seen Mola deployed at left-back as opposed to being the left-sided centre-back in a back-three.

Next up for the Gas is a return to League One duties this Saturday when they host in-form Barnsley before trips to Wigan Athletic and Charlton Athletic to see out the month.

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