Josh Coburn’s Bristol Rovers loan explained as Middlesbrough recall question asked

Joey Barton expects Josh Coburn to remain a Bristol Rovers player for the duration of his season-long loan, but Middlesbrough do have the option to recall.

Chris Wilder - who sanctioned Coburn’s loan deal - was sacked on Monday with the club in the Championship relegation zone.

Wilder green lighted his temporary departure from the Riverside Stadium and spoke highly of Rovers and Barton, as well as his long-term plans for the forward.

After his sacking however, it begs the question as to whether Wilder’s successor will want to recall the players they have sent out on loan to get a closer look at him.

Any prospective new manager however may want to evaluate Coburn’s loan spell in Bristol. and with the 19-year-old making 26 appearances in Teesside last season, he has Championship pedigree.

“Our understanding was that we would get him for the full season because we’re going to help him through the end stage,” Barton said.

“We were missing him for a month. Who knows? A new manager gets appointed, decides he’s part of his plans and obviously the parent club will pull rank.

“For him to do that he must mean he’s doing well for us and scoring goals for us. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it in January.”

The striker signed on a season-long loan from the Championship club on deadline day whilst recovering from a knee injury that he sustained in Boro’s opening day draw with West Brom.

He linked up with his new side last week after completing his rehabilitation with his parent club’s physio team following a nine-week injury lay-off.

It allowed him to play 45 minutes in the Gas’ victory over Crystal Palace Under-21’s in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday, and now may be in the fold for Saturday’s game against Cambridge United.

Some good form may be a curse and not a blessing for the Gas and could prompt Middlesbrough’s new manager to recall Coburn in January if there was an agreement in place between the two clubs.

“I think they always have a recall option, all the clubs in January but because we took him when he was injured I hope they’ll leave him with us.”