After a superb captain's performance, Joey Barton believes Paul Coutts' influence at Bristol Rovers on and off the pitch is priceless.
The skipper was outstanding in the heart of midfield as the Gas defeated promotion rivals Port Vale 3-1 on Easter Monday to close to within two points of the top three. Two in-form sides played out a thrilling and chaotic contest at Vale Park, but Coutts' composure was invaluable in steering Rovers to victory.
He produced a brilliant assist to haul Rovers onto level terms after a nightmare start and marshalled his teammates through difficult phases in the game. Gas manager Barton knows he is lucky to have a skipper like Coutts leading his team as the race for promotion goes down to the wire.
"I can’t speak any more highly of him as a man and as a captain, and I’m so pleased now everybody is seeing his performances because he was getting a bit of stick in the early part of the season," Barton said.
"His performance today, you’re thinking ‘Can he maintain that level?’ He didn’t, he actually took the performance on today. Hopefully he can do that in the next three games because if he plays as well as that, that means our team is playing well.
"When I watch him, he feels as fit as he’s ever felt and I think he’s finding that new lease of life.
"As the challenge, intensity and the pressure rises, that suits Couttsy because he has an ability to slow things down and find space and calmness in the midst of the chaos sometimes. It is a really special quality and that’s what he does on the pitch.
"Everything he does off the pitch as a captain is 10 times that. I couldn’t put a price on the captain we managed to recruit. He’s been superb and his performances in the last period as the pressure has gone up have got better and better. I thought he was outstanding."
Coutts has made 41 appearances in all competitions for the Gas this season, overcoming a slow start after missing almost the entirety of pre-season due to a case of COVID-19. The improvement in his own form has mirrored the team's, underlining how influential he has been for Barton.
The Scotsman is under contract for 2022/23 after triggering a one-year extension clause by playing 23 league games for the Gas.
The manager says the 33-year-old is feeling better than ever on the pitch, particularly since he suffered a broken leg playing for Sheffield United five years ago that altered his career path and perhaps denied him the chance of playing for the Blades or another club in the Premier League.
"He was destined for a real high level," Barton said. "Lots of people were linked with him and you can see why.
"He had a huge setback with a really bad injury and he is saying now when you speak to him it’s the best he has felt since that injury. They are great signs for us."
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