Bristol Rovers new boy Scott Sinclair: Shirt number, contract length, when could he make debut?

Bristol Rovers have completed the signing of former player Scott Sinclair on a free transfer. The winger has been without a club since leaving Preston North End at the end of the last campaign.

The 33-year-old has been weighing up his options since the end of June and has now returned to where he started his career. Joey Barton’s side are currently 12th in the League One table and are three points off the play-offs.

What shirt number will he wear?

Sinclair has been handed the number seven shirt by the Gas. Luke Thomas wore that in the last campaign but it has been vacant since he went back to his parent club Barnsley.

How long is his contract?

The former Premier League man has penned a short-term contract until January at the Memorial Ground. Bristol Rovers have 12 games to play in all competitions before the turn of the year. Nothing has been reported yet about whether the club have the option to extend his stay further.

When could he make his debut?

He is unavailable to play in this evening’s game against Swindon Town in the Papa John’s Trophy. However, he is in contention to play against table toppers Plymouth Argyle this weekend. The attacker had a loan spell with the Pilgrims earlier in his career back in 2007 to gain experience.

How many games did he play for Bristol Rovers in his previous spell?

Sinclair first joined the club back in 1998 and rose up through the academy ranks. He was a regular at various youth levels before breaking into the first-team.

The Gas handed him his senior debut in a League Two clash against Leyton Orient back in December 2014 when he was just 15-years-old and he went on to play once more. Chelsea then lured him to the Premier League and he made 14 appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Other facts

He represented the UK football team under Stuart Pearce in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. His brother Martin plays for the England Cerebal Palsy team, whilst his other brother Jake is on the books of Mangotsfield United. Sinclair is engaged to former Coronation Street actor Helen Flanagan.