‘Leader’ - Joey Barton hails Everton man ahead of comeback from injury at Bristol Rovers

Joey Barton is excited by the prospect of on-loan Everton defender Lewis Gibson returning to the fold at Bristol Rovers after a spell out with injury.

The 22-year-old has been missing since New Years Day after complaining of a thigh problem against Cheltenham Town, which forced him to be subbed off. It was first hoped that Gibson wouldn’t be out for such a period, but he ended up missing several matches, and he has been sorely missed. The Gas have won just once in his absence and are currently on a seven-game winless run.

Centre-back has been an area of concern for Rovers with Bobby Thomas joining League One rivals Barnsley, whilst Alfie Kilgour was sold to Mansfeld Town. Highly-rated England Under-19 international Jarell Quansah has joined from Liverpool but has yet to taste victory in the blue and white quarters.

Despite being one of the younger members of the youthful squad with less than 50 appearances in the professional game, he is highly thought of by his manager. Gibson worked with Barton at Fleetwood Town and was part of the side that reached the end of season play-offs.

Since joining Rovers, Gibson has made 19 appearances across all competitions but has had two spells out with injury. The former Reading man however has developed a trait that Barton has yearned for in recent weeks.

"He’s a leader," said Barton about Gibson, who he is extremely delighted to be working with again after nearly two months out with injury.

"He is mature beyond his years, he’s a real leader and he leads with his performance. He leads the team with his communication and his tactical understanding of what the team is trying to do. He’s been a big miss, him and Jordy Rossiter have been a huge miss for us.

"It happens in a football season, there are going to be spells where leadership types are out and the trees chop down, which gives a young sapling a chance to grow into it. At this moment it hasn’t happened at the level we would like it and we haven’t had the results to allow that to happen. It is really pleasing when you get a player of Gibbo’s quality and leadership qualities back into your group."

Gibson’s return could give Barton the chance to revert back to a system that uses three central defenders, which has brought mixed results. He can play as a centre-back or should the manager stick with four defenders, he could play at left-back, which Calum Macdonald and Lewis Gordon are both natural in.

The former Sheffield Wednesday loanee isn’t the only player making a return to action this weekend with Sam Finley back after serving a three-match ban. Finley was retrospectively charged by the English FA for violent conduct against MK Dons and has missed the last few matches with Grant Ward and Lamare Bogarde taking his place. Finley, who has been the stand-in skipper when Paul Coutts has been absent or amongst the substitutes is a player that Barton has craved for in the last few matches.

He said: "They definitely improve the group and will give us a couple of different options in there. They bring a lot more maturity as well, Sam is a different stage to Gibbo but certainly, the way both of them play, you want them in your group and want them in your team, especially when you’re in a tough moment like we are.

"Certainly when you’ve got a young group they do struggle to reset a little bit. For us, we have a chance to put more men on the pitch. People with experience and people with know-how. Age isn’t just a given on that it can be about your character and personality. Two lads coming back into the group help that. We don’t feel we’re a million miles away, and we’re not getting snotted by anyone but we aren’t firing away on all cylinders and we must improve that.”