‘A competent footballer’ - Joey Barton’s verdict after highly-rated Burnley defender joins Bristol Rovers

Bobby Thomas has completed a move to Bristol Rovers, becoming the third player to join the club on transfer deadline day.

The 21-year-old joins on a season-long loan, joining from Championship outfit Burnley, who rate him highly.

Barton has used his contacts from the club that he had two spells at to recruit a player in a position that needed filling. Before joining Burnley, he had played in the youth teams of Everton and Crewe Alexandra.

The Gas have already signed Lewis Gibson from Everton this summer, but following an injury to James Connolly, defensive reinforcements were needed to provide competition and cover.

“He’s a really good player, I know him a little better than most with the Burnley experience and the contacts there,” revealed Barton.

“It’s somebody who is really highly-rated by them. He has come in this morning and there is a good physical size on him.

“He’s a really competent footballer, he looks like he is chomping at the bit. He will be keen to do well and obviously get back in Vincent Kompany’s mind.

“For us, we get an opportunity to see what he is capable of. Certainly in the last period we have seen of him, we are really happy with him so we look forward to working with him.”

Thomas spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Barrow, playing 21-times as a teenager in League Two, helping the Bluebirds to safety.

He has one senior appearance with the Clarets to his name, playing in a Carabao Cup win in September 2020. For Burnley, he has made the gradual step-up from their Under-18’s to their Under-21’s team.

Last season Thomas made eight appearances in the Premier League 2 but did not play a game from November onwards.

He had featured prominently this pre-season and was praised by Vincent Kompany for his showings, "Bobby is a talented player and there is no doubt about that,” said the former Manchester City defender.

Despite the Belgian boss taking a liking to him, he has fallen down the pecking order after the arrivals of CJ Egan-Riley, Luke McNally and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

A move away from Turf Moor had always been on the cards though after Burnley conducted their transfer business in the needed areas.