Bristol Rovers 2022/23 squad numbers confirmed:…

Bristol Rovers 2022/23 squad numbers confirmed: Transfer hints, Marquis given coveted shirt

John Marquis will bear the Bristol Rovers No9 on his back but the release of the squad numbers for 2022/23 is more about the digits which haven't been assigned to a player yet.

Rovers have confirmed the numbers, a little over 24 hours before their first League One game of the season against Forest Green Rovers and with the exception of Marquis taking the No9, Jordan Rossiter being given No14, James Gibbons No28, Ryan Loft moving up from No38 to No18 and a number of academy players being included, there hasn't been a great deal of change.

Tellingly, however, the numbers 3, 7, 11 and 17 haven't been filled, pointing towards possible incomings over the next four weeks as Joey Barton continues to strengthen his squad.

The No3 was worn by Mark Hughes last season but has been vacant since he left the club in January and is an obvious landing spot for any new defenders who could arrive between now and September 1.

No7 and No11 can be considered prime numbers on offer but none of the current Gas squad have taken them, with Luke Thomas holding the former and Sam Nicholson the latter last season. Rovers remain keen on bringing Thomas back to the Mem from Barnsley, the chances of which are perhaps revealed slightly by the fact Barton has elected to keep his previous shirt number free.

No17 may not stand out as an obvious choice but that was the number Connor Taylor wore throughout his impressive campaign in north Bristol before returning to parent club Stoke City. Barton has been open about taking the 20-year-old back on loan for this season but the Gas are playing a waiting game with Potters manager Michael O'Neill yet to make a decision on his future.

Elsewhere, academy quartet Jerry Lawrence, Sam Heal, Jamie Egan and Harvey Greenslade have all been given squad numbers having been used consistently through pre-season after signing new contracts at the start of the summer.