Rovers set for an exciting period, insists Barton

I’ve had to join in training a few times myself and members of staff have had to join in. It’s been really tough, but yesterday was the first day we could actually get 11 vs 11.

“It was really nice, it seemed like we had a lot of men back with a real size and presence, so I’m really excited about getting back on the grass in front of our fans and it sets us up lovely for an exciting second half of the season.”

Clarke, coupled with Loft – signed from Scunthorpe on January 4 – is expected to help Rovers bring the best out of their array of creative threats.

Barton explained: “I don’t think (Clarke’s return) will be a long way away, based on training yesterday. Whether it’s a week or two weeks, we thought it would be February. We may be able to shave a bit off that, but we’ll be judged by Leon and the way he progresses stage by stage.

“But yesterday he was hitting the top speeds in the parameters we had on him from the data we collected in the early part of the year.

“We’re really pleased with his progress, and with big Ryan Loft coming into the mix with Leon Clarke, I think it will add a different dimension and it will help Sammy Nicholson, Antony Evans, Aaron Collins, Luke Thomas and obviously Brett Pitman. I think he will really help show a different dimension to those guys than what we’ve been able to show without a recognised number nine.

“You see the reasons why you pay what you pay and you hang your hat on that kind of focal point to your attack. They’ve really given us a different dimension in our prep this week and I’m hoping that continues with the game on Saturday and into the second half of the season.

“We’ve got work to do, but we’ve got lots of the right components and it’s a case of getting into the games programme now and kicking on.”

Alex Rodman is another long-term injured player nearing a return in the coming weeks, but forward Harvey Saunders has been dealt a setback.

The 24-year-old, who has three goals in 14 games this season and has impressed with his work rate, has not played since suffering an ankle injury at Bradford in October, and has now fractured his hand.