Bristol Rovers' squad list has been submitted to the EFL, highlighting a moment of opportunity that awaits Joey Barton in the months ahead.
Clubs are obliged to submit squad lists to the league after the end of the transfer window, with the EFL publishing them today (Monday). Each club is allowed to register 22 outfield players aged older than 21, eight of which must meet the homegrown criteria.
Rovers have named 19 players in their squad, the vast majority of which are homegrown. The likes of James Connolly, Sylvester Jasper and Bobby Thomas are too young to be counted against the limit.
Barton has shown a willingness, and often a preference, to use young players in key positions and that has built his squad in such a way that, after the end of the summer window, he has lots of room for manoeuvre.
That could be in the free agent market, and he has alluded to the possibility of making an attacking addition to his squad, but he will most likely feel the benefits of it in the January transfer window. Last season underlined the transformative impact the January window can have on a team, with the signings of Connolly and Elliot Anderson playing a huge part in Rovers' upturn in form that led to promotion.
Barton will be hopeful of making a similar impact in a few months' time when the trading period reopens, albeit a tilt at the top six is unrealistic given some of the powerhouse clubs leading the way at the top end of the division after seven games.
He has the chance to make multiple senior additions to his squad without the need to reshuffle. Finances may apply their own limitations, but on the face of it, the manager is not going to need to abide by the kind of one-in-one-out policy that other clubs have to work by.
Coupled with the fact that there are a couple of players on the fringes who have been named in the squad yet their playing chances look slim, there is scope to make even more drastic changes in January should Rovers require them without trimming the nucleus of the group.
Barton wanted more than the 10 summer signings the Gas were able to get over the line, but he could benefit down the line if Rovers can put the vacancies in their 22-man squad to good use, either in the free agent market or in January.
The manager does not want extra bodies for the sake of it, though. He said last week after confirming he was in the market for a free agent signing: "It’s about management of the group and sometimes with too many chefs, you’re leaving lads out on a Saturday and I just see it as waste."
But Rovers have had more than their fair share of injury issues at the start of the season and if that continues then Barton will be glad to have the added wiggle room.
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