Trevor Clarke has been reintegrated into Bristol Rovers' squad and has the chance to earn Joey Barton's trust, the manager has said.
Clarke was a surprise inclusion for Tuesday's EFL Trophy group stage tie at Plymouth Argyle, four weeks on from Barton excluding him from the squad and indicating he had no future with the Gas. The left-back only signed a new contract in June but he was instructed to find a new club, with Rovers allowing him to leave for free, after the opening day defeat to Forest Green Rovers.
In the aftermath of that game, Barton said he had made a "mistake" offering the Irishman a new two-year deal, but with Clarke unable to find a new club with the transfer deadline looming on Thursday evening, bridges have been built and he has returned to training. Barton suggested the case will be the same for Zain Westbrooke, too, if he does not leave the club by 11pm.
