Bristol Rovers dealt blow as Aston Villa make transfer decision

Bristol Rovers are set to be dealt another blow as Aston Villa are to recall loan midfielder Lamare Bogarde according to reports. Bogarde was due to spend the 2023/24 campaign at the Memorial Stadium, but a recall is now likely.

A report from Football Insider says that Villa's plans were always to terminate the loan. It is added that the Villains plan to send him to a Championship club next to help aid his development. Bogarde rejoined the Gas this summer having spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign at the Mem, but since Joey Barton's dismissal he has found game time limited.

Bogarde has made 18 appearances this season for the Gas with two assists in their FA Cup win over Whitby Town. Since Taylor's appointment in early December, he has yet to make an appearance despite Taylor's desire to sign him when he was in charge at Rotherham United.

The Netherlands under-20's midfielder has been an unused substitute against Crewe Alexandra, Blackpool and Portsmouth respectively, but has not made the last two match day squads against Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers.

Bogarde's expected departure comes at a time where defender James Wilson is expected to miss the next few months of the season. Wilson was forced off with an injury in the 2-1 win against Charlton and did not feature against the Chairboys.

"It's a pretty bad calf injury so it's not weeks, it will be into the months," Taylor said to the Bristol Post.

"How many months I don't know just yet. There will be an initial recovery process that he'll go through but initial scan results aren't great.

"It doesn't change what we were planning to do. We have some plans in private that we're going to execute in the next week or so so it doesn't change it too much but we do feel we're a bit light in that department.

"Maybe in terms of seniority there. Now, unfortunately, that's nigh-on impossible to get in January in this window so we'll have to be there to not make do but ensure that we improve personnel.

The injury could lead to the likely recall of James Connolly who has been plying his trade with Morecambe in League Two. Connolly has played 17 games for Morecambe this season but did not feature against Harrogate Town on New Year's Day.

"There's certainly a chance that he'll [Connolly] come back," added Taylor in his post-match interview at Adams Park.