Joey Barton’s prediction for Josh Coburn as Bristol Rovers sign striker from Middlesbrough

The Boro striker becomes the second player to enter the building on a busy deadline day for Bristol Rovers
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Bristol Rovers have made their second deadline day addition by signing Josh Coburn on loan from Middlesbrough.

The 19-year-old has joined the Gas on loan until the end of the season, joining Sylvester Jasper as the second arrival on Deadline Day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Standing at six foot and three inches, Coburn bolsters the attacking line of John Marquis, Ryan Loft and occasionally Aaron Collins.

With Rovers eyeing up attacking reinforcements, Joey Barton believes Coburn will add ‘a different dimension’ after the arrival of the forward.

Commenting on his newest addition, first-team manager Barton said: “We are delighted to add Josh to the group and are confident he will add a different dimension to our attacking options.

“He’s someone we’ve been tracking for a while. He’s not fit enough at the minute, he’s coming off the back of a bit of an injury but we think he’ll be somebody who will complement our frontline.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“A really physical boy for his age. He’s just missing that last little bit and we feel we can give him that opportunity, which is games and regular rhythm and playing time.

He added: “He’s just missing, for me, a regular run in the team. Otherwise, I think he’d be pushing hard to start at Middlesbrough.

“Delighted to have him. Another young one, but I’d rather take young and full of potential than tried and tested. At this level, there is a huge upside for taking a chance on a player and getting it right, as we can attest with Connor and Elliot last year.”

An academy product of Boro, he has 26 senior appearances to show having broken into the first-team of the Teeside club last season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His appearances mainly came as a substitute but he has been able to score five goals in the Championship and a memorable match-winning goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup last season.

Coburn came on as a substitute in the opening game of the season against West Bromwich Albion but a knee injury has had him sidelined since the start of August.

He is still expected to miss the next four or five weeks of action however that has not impacted his medical with Rovers having a say on the current status of the player.

Chris Wilder had been keen to move the player out to get him game time after the arrivals of Rodrigo Muniz, Marcus Forss and Matthew Hoppe, with Chuba Akpom and Duncan Watmore already at the club.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.