DANNY Rogers is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a setback with his neck injury, and is undergoing further investigations.

Rogers was initially ruled out for six weeks with the problem he sustained ahead of Latics’ second League Two game of the season.

But the 27-year-old has been referred to a neurologist after being unable to perform specific actions with his arm and hand.

"He hasn't responded as well as we were hoping,” said head coach Keith Curle.

“He's having some neurological tinglings going down his arm and discomfort.

“He can't make a fist and can't stretch his arm, which isn't the best for a goalkeeper.”

Asked if Rogers was undergoing tests or treatment, Curle confirmed: “He's been for a scan. He's been referred to a someone who deals with necks and the nerve endings that are affected by it.”

The goalkeeper started the season for Latics following his summer arrival on a free transfer following his release from Kilmarnock.

But after being the hero of the penalty shootout win over Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup first round in August he was injured ahead of the following fixture at Bradford City.

Rogers, who was Latics’ only senior available goalkeeper at the time as Jayson Leutwiler’s contract was in the process of being renegotiated, managed to complete the game, albeit with obvious difficulty.

But he has not featured since.

The former Kilmarnock and Aberdeen stopper initially made good progress and was named among the substitutes for the goalless draw at Mansfield last month, and for the subsequent visits of Stevenage and Walsall. But he was absent from the bench for the trip to Carlisle United, where Academy keeper Kacper Danielewicz again deputised, while Luke Southerington was named on the bench as back-up for Leutwiler after impressing the FA Youth Cup win at Carlisle last Tuesday.