ECHOSPORT talks to Tranmere Rovers fan Sam Robinson ahead of Tuesday night's match at Roots Hall. 

Tranmere are currently fifth in the table. What have you made of the season so far?

"We're about where I expected us to be in pre-season, but there's also a case of "What might have been?" following our slow start to the season, where nine points from 10 games saw the end of Mike Jackson's short time as manager.

"At that time, we were already eight points off the play-off places and 10 off the automatic promotion spots, but since Keith Hill's appointment in November, no team has picked up more points (36) than us. Credit, too, must go to caretaker managers Ian Dawes and Andy Parkinson, who oversaw a run of three straight wins in the League to get us back on track before Hill's arrival.

What are your hopes for the rest of the season? Is promotion a real possibility?

"Given the quality of the squad, we have to be looking at a play-off place as a minimum, but automatic promotion is realistic and still in our control as we have games in hand. The quality is definitely there, even with the news that top scorer James Vaughan needs to undergo surgery on a knee injury.

"We're now hot on the heels of the top three, but our home form must improve - seven defeats at Prenton Park so far this season isn't good enough for a side who want to be making an immediate return to League One.

"We have a free hit in the Papa John's Trophy final against Sunderland this Sunday. While it would be nice to win that, getting back into League One must be the priority, particularly after how hard done by we felt by the PPG saga, which relegated us last season."

What have been the main reasons for the success?

"Before Vaughan's injury, we had a strong spine of Scott Davies in goal, Peter Clarke in defence, Jay Spearing in midfield and Vaughan leading the line. Their experience has been vital with Vaughan the standout player.

"The squad's quality and strength in depth have allowed us to create a lot of momentum even when making changes to the starting line-up. Twice this season we've won five successive league games, and before Saturday's defeat at home to Crawley, we'd won our previous three."

How much of a blow is the injury to James Vaughan?

"It's huge, and the news that his knee injury now requires surgery casts into doubt his availability for the rest of the season. He's got 18 goals in 26 league appearances, accounting for 41 per cent of our League goals, and we're a worse side without him.

"However, one person's misfortune is another's opportunity, and there are a couple of players who will be relishing the chance to step up and make their mark, including David Nugent."

Who are the dangermen in the team?

"In the absence of Vaughan, much will be expected of former England international Nugent, who is on loan from Preston until the end of the season.

"He's still trying to find match sharpness, so goalscoring expectation in the interim may fall on Kaiyne Woolery, who has been outstanding since the turn of the year with seven goals taking his tally for the season into double figures."

How has ex Southend defender Peter Clarke been playing for you?

"He's been excellent, a real leader. A few people, myself included, were doubtful when he first signed, given his age, but he's barely put a foot wrong and has been very reliable.

"He's a player with high standards and one who makes those around him better. He's also proven to be a big threat from set-pieces and has four goals this season, including one in the reverse fixture."

What's the team news for Tuesday?

"Midfielder Kieron Morris could be back after missing Saturday's defeat to Crawley with a minor knock. Defender George Ray was substituted at the weekend with a hip problem which could see him ruled out.

"The game comes too soon for midfielder Otis Khan, while top scorer Vaughan is going under the knife on the day of the game."

It's also the last game before the trip to Wembley at the weekend. Could that be a distraction?

"It's an easy excuse to make when you lose a game ahead of a cup final, as we did on Saturday. Given how tight the League table is and how tight I expect it to be come the end of the season, every point is going to be crucial in the promotion race and the League has to be the priority.

"We've used the Papa John's Trophy this season as a chance to give fringe players some minutes and it's not yet clear whether or not Keith Hill will reward the players who got us there with a starting berth on Sunday. There could well be places in the team up for grabs, which I hope would be more of a motivation than a distraction."