Bristol Rovers on alert as Middlesbrough ponder loan transfer for 10-goal striker

Bristol Rovers could be presented with a chance to re-sign Josh Coburn, according to a report in the North East.

The Northern Echo report that Boro are ‘weighing up’ the next step for Coburn, with a loan ‘not out of the question’ for the 20-year-old. He is currently injured after suffering an injury during their pre-season preparations in Portugal, and will make a decision when he is fully recovered.

It is understood that Middlesbrough want to bring one more striker in after Cameron Archer returned to Aston Villa, and now Michael Carrick - who kept tabs on his loan spell at the Memorial Stadium - will now have to decide whether he’s ready again for Championship football.

"That’s always the balance of making that call," Carrick said to the Northern Echo when discussing his plans.

“We have to do right certainly for Josh at this stage of his career but of course we have to look after the first team as well. "It’s not a straight forward decision.

“We have to see how that develops, when he gets fit, see what his options are and what’s best for all of us, but especially Josh."

Coburn signed a new long-term deal at the Riverside Stadum and is now under contract until 2027. He said his main aim was to break in to Middlesbrough’s first-team but that could be a decision that is taken out of his hands. He is expected to make a return to training next week, which is the final week of friendlies before the 2023/24 Championship season begins.

Rovers have no problem with waiting for loan players, and have done so during Joey Barton’s tenure with the striker arriving on deadline day last summer. He has stated his desire at working with loan players again, and they would likely be the first name on a list of potential destinations. The Teesside club consider loaning him to a lower-half Championship club to aid his development but Rovers hold ambitions of breaking in to the League One play-offs this season.

Coburn scored 10 goals and got two assists in 39 appearances for the Gas last season, and he was once dubbed the ‘Teesside Haaland’ after his performance against Sheffield Wednesday. He has also been tipped to one day represent the England national team by Joey Barton, who himself made one-cap for the Three Lions.