Football Rovers boss hails impact made by ‘phenomenal’ Sinclair
JOEY Barton lauded the performance of “phenomenal player” Scott Sinclair after he scored the winner for Bristol Rovers against Peterborough United on Saturday.
Sinclair’s 53rd-minute finish settled the contest in a 1-0 win over Posh at the Memorial Stadium, and the 33-year-old - who returned to his boyhood club last month -celebrated jubilantly in front of the Thatchers Terrace.
It was Sinclair’s second winning goal since his return after scoring against Rochdale in the FA Cup, and everyone of a blue and white persuasion is desperate for the winger to stay beyond the expiry of his short-term contract in January.
“That’s the beauty of being able to add a phenomenal professional and a phenomenal player in Scotty Sinclair to our group,” said Barton.
“His finish today was exceptional, but not only that, I thought his all-round performance was first-class.
“He’s been great, he has been a real breath of fresh air. Scotty hasn’t come in and put all his trophies and medals and achievements there. He’s come in and he’s knuckled down and got stuck in with the lads.
“They love him as a person in the dressing room and the Gasheads now have seen somebody who they can resonate with in the team, a superstar in the Gas’ history, but he’s come back now to enjoy the Indian summer of being north of 30.
“If he carries on in the vein he has in the early part, the best is yet to come from Scott.”
Sinclair, pictured, was tasked with playing at right wing-back on Saturday and the former Celtic and Manchester City man was up for the challenge. He offered Rovers a consistent outlet and threatened several times before he eventually found the back of the net.
This was his first 90-minute outing since joining the Gas in October; excellent signs for Barton as Sinclair builds his fitness levels.
Barton believes Sinclair’s impact in BS7 has been huge and multifaceted. Not only is he shining on the pitch, but he has made a big impression on team-mates.
“It’s the lads knowing they can pass to him and they just know there is a calmness,” said Barton. “His close control, his weight of pass, the way he loans the ball to other players, you always want good players in your team because they radiate calmness.
“I remember Elliot Anderson last year, he just radiated confidence out, and certainly Scott has since he’s come into the starting XI.
“Today, I had to speak to him and I said ‘We’ve brought you in to play a more offensive role, but this is how we’re going to play it’ and he’s like ‘Yeah, great.’ He just loves playing football.
“He’s a real privilege to coach. He just turns up with a big smile on his face, great team-mate, even when he’s not in the team. In the early part, he’s encouraging the people around him, coaching Bobby Thomas and the younger players into position. For me as a coach, we’ve been lucky with Paul Coutts and Glenn Whelan, but to add another player who has got an incredible career, who’s been an incredible professional who has scored a play-off final hat-trick. That’s worth £100 million.
“He’s just got that composure and that has radiated out into the people who are close to him in the game.”