Joey Barton suggests potential solution to Bristol Rovers centre-back dilemma

Luca Hoole may be in line for a positional change at Bristol Rovers as Joey Barton considers his long-term future.

The highly-rated youngster played a majority of the Stoke City match at centre-back, partnering fellow Wales Under-21 international James Connolly.

Hoole and Connolly made the perfect case to their manager keeping a clean sheet against Championship opposition.

A right-back by trade, he slotted in comfortably as a right-sided centre-back in a flat back four.

In his post-match press conference after the win against the Potters, Barton admitted he sees Hoole’s future in the game as a centre-back.

"I do think it’s his long-term position. If it’s this season, I’m not sure, but I think he will ultimately become a really good centre-back.

“Whether we use him as a centre-back in a three or a four, I’m not sure yet, but he’s got better through each game.

"There were a couple of challenges he made tonight and he’s showing how quick he can retain information. He’s learning all the time and you forget how young they are, two 20-year-old centre-backs."

As team shape goes, Barton did try a back three last season but found more success with a 4-1-4-1/4-2-3-1 formation at the start of the new year.

The arrival of Connolly along with another loan defender in Connor Taylor was the solid foundation, but now Barton is tasked with forging another partnership.

A return to the Memorial Stadium has been spoken about but after signing a three-year deal with the Staffordshire club, they may include him in their plans this season.

Kilgour, also an academy graduate, is another option but he suffered an injury in training after a collision.

The 24-year-old hasn’t played competitively since January after suffering an injury and is a more physical defender rather than the ball-playing centre-backs that are accustomed to Barton’s style.

Barton had also spoken about playing summer signing James Gibbons in the centre-back role but so far he has played in the familiar role of right-back, already building a relationship with Harry Anderson.

Gibson’s arrival did pose questions on where Hoole would fit in but it seems that the former Port Vale defender has sped up the process of the Welshman playing a more central position.

"We’re not absolutely nailed in on that, but Gibbo, we want to get him in his natural position. He’s played left-back, he’s played for Port Vale as a right-sided centre-back in a three.

"We know he’s versatile but we want to put him in his natural position. We want to shift Hooley out of it because he’s got 40-odd games playing right-back and we want to give him a little bit of experience in what I think will be his long-term position and it allows us to get Gibbo in his position and we can build a relationship.

"Plus, if Hooley is playing centre-half it allows me to teach him the defensive responsibilities that maybe you don’t always learn at full-back. "They’ve been great, the two of them, Beefy and him.

You’re asking two young lads to run a line and police a backline and every day is a school day. They are getting it right sometimes; tonight was really good but it’s a work in progress.

"I love it. Empty vessels, you get to teach them the game, so it’s really exciting, but we’ve got a lot of work to do."