Southampton defender emerges as player of interest to Bristol Rovers

Southampton defender Will Tizzard has emerged as a player of interest to Bristol Rovers in their search of a new centre-back.

After Connor Taylor’s return to Stoke City where he is likely to become a first-teamer, The Gas are short on centre-back options and are in the market for permanent and loan signings.

James Connolly is their only addition in that area this summer whilst academy graduate Luca Hoole is being considered for a position change from right-back. Alfie Kilgour is the only other player to fit that position but he has been nursing an injury over pre-season.

Rovers are said to have watched him last year and are aware of his ability and playing style, now it is up to them to consider making a move for him, though at this point it would only be a loan move.

At 19-years-old, he is a towering presence, standing at six foot three, though he is also comfortable on the ball, which plays into the current system that Rovers play.

Tizzard, a native of Bristol, was spotted by the Saints when played playing for Coalpit Heath at grassroots level before being snapped up at Under 9’s level.

Southampton have a base in the West Country and over the number of years have beaten both Bristol City and Rovers to the signings of young players to their academies.

During the 2020/21 season, Tizzard was named the 'scholar of the year' at Southampton, a prestigious award amongst the club which has been won by a number of their best academy products. He has made the gradual step up from their Under-18's side to Under-23's, becoming a regular at that level.

He made 10 appearances in total in the Premier League 2 last year, helping David Horseman’s side to a seventh placed finish.

In March, Hampshire Live considered Tizzard to be an option when Southampton’s first-team were suffering an injury crisis at centre-back.

Bristol Rovers success with helping forge the careers of young players at the game could put them in a good position when enquiring about loan players.

Connolly, who signed for a six-figure fee from Cardiff, as well as Taylor from Stoke and Elliot Anderson of Newcastle United were a huge part of the teams success last year.

Taylor and Connolly formed a formidable partnership in defence, despite both being aged just 20-years-old, dealing with experienced strikers in League Two.

Anderson meanwhile is in contention to play Premier League football this season with Eddie Howe reportedly against loaning him out again.

The 19-year-old in his first time away from St James Park, excelled by scoring seven goals and earning assists, helping them to promotion.

With an obvious platform to be successful at the Memorial Stadium for young players, Barton has sent a message out to top flight English teams to send their players to him to nurture.

He said: "So I’m hoping everyone like Chelsea and anyone else who has got any half-decent young players who they want to get in their first team, don’t put them in your 23s, send them down here to us. We’ll give them a platform to show how good they are and you’ll get a better player back than what you gave us.

"Every player we take on loan gets better. We’re getting more and more trust off bigger clubs because you can imagine if you’re Newcastle or Stoke or one of those bigger sides, if you’ve got good young players you’re likely to lend them to us because we’ve done a good job for you."