Manager Barton won’t take any risks with Nicholson and Thomas
JOEY Barton will proceed cautiously when introducing Sam Nicholson and Luke Thomas into his Bristol Rovers squad, mindful of the vital role they could play in a promotion challenge.
Nicholson was Rovers’ outstanding player last season before a hip injury prematurely ended his eightgoal campaign, while Thomas has been brought in from Barnsley on a season-long loan with designs on playing a pivotal role in returning the Gas to League One. But the 22-year-old has played little football this year after a challenging stint at Ipswich Town, and is a week or two behind many his new teammates in pre-season training.
Nicholson, likewise, is playing catch-up, and is expected to return to The Quarters for work next week for the first time since a hip operation in March.
Less than three weeks remain until Rovers’ season begins at Mansfield Town, but Barton will not be rushing his ‘X-factor’ players into action, instead hoping a carefully-managed start to the season will ensure their fitness until the end of the campaign.
“I think Luke could be a real X-factor for us this season,” Barton said after Thomas, pictured, watched Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle from the stands.
“He and Sammy Nicholson, with their speed and ability to take people on in a one-on-one situation, we have to protect those boys and make sure they’re absolutely on the money when they come back into it because we want them fit for most of the season.
“If that means they’re later starting and miss four or five games, so be it, because they are two players who are capable of deciding a football match, certainly at League Two level.
“They are exciting lads and the guys here will really enjoy watching them play, and everything we’ve built in the team around is about creating certain platforms for certain players.
“So it would be foolish of me to rush them and they blow up and miss large parts of the season. We have to be really careful with both of them, because they are special players.”
New signings Paul Coutts and Sam Finley are yet to make their first appearances for the club. They and Ben Liddle - contracted Covid19 before pre-season began, leaving them behind schedule.
Finley’s bout of the virus was more minor, and he was due to play against Argyle until suffering a thigh strain. He could miss two weeks. Coutts has been stepping up his fitness work and is expected to feature against Swansea.
Brandon Hanlan, Zain Walker and Pablo Martinez are also missing training and game-time while they follow coronavirus protocols. Defenders Cian Harries and Jack Baldwin have been joined on the injured list by Alfie Kilgour, who has a minor hamstring problem. Alex Rodman is due to return to training soon after a muscle problem, while Anssi Jaakkola has been back in training in the past week after being on Euro 2020 duty with Finland.