Joey Barton says he would "love" to re-sign all of Bristol Rovers' loan stars after their promotion to League One.
Elliot Anderson, Connor Taylor, James Connolly, Luke Thomas and Sion Spence, to varying degrees, were all influential players as the Gas claimed a stunning third-place finish in League Two thanks to a sensational second half of the season.
Newcastle United prodigy Anderson accumulated seven goals and six assists in 20 games after joining in January, while Stoke City and Cardiff City defenders Taylor and Connolly formed a rock-solid partnership at centre-back.
Barnsley winger Thomas came on strong at the end with several important cameos and Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Spence was one of the unlikely heroes of the campaign, playing just seven games but scoring three vital goals in the context of Rovers' season.
Barton and the Gas enjoyed great success in the loan market this season and he admitted on Thursday he would be delighted to see them all back in the blue and white quarters next season.
"I’d love all of them back," the manager told BBC Radio Bristol. "They were superb, every single one of them, even young Spenno.
"I think back to Sion’s goal at Walsall and Oxford in the FA Cup. They were massive goals for us in terms of momentum and keeping that upward trajectory in the season. He never played as many minutes as he probably would have done in a successful period for him, but we also feel that has added value to him.
"We would want to take them all, but they are somebody else’s players and they kindly loan them to you. I’m incredibly grateful to Stoke and Newcastle and Barnsley and Cardiff for loaning us their young players and trusting us with their development. If they came available, you’d love to have a conversation with them."
Anderson returning to the Mem appears a longshot with Barton tipping him to make a run at Newcastle's first team this summer. Several Championship clubs are eyeing the playmaker if Newcastle choose to loan him out again.
The rest return to their parent clubs with a degree of uncertainty in their futures. Barnsley are without a manager, Stoke are eager to assess Taylor in pre-season, Spence will face an uphill task breaking through at Palace and Connolly had only signed a one-year contract with the Bluebirds last summer.
Barton was asked specifically about Connolly's situation at Cardiff and the manager pointed to a lack of clarity.
"I’m not 100 per cent sure," he said. "I still think he’s got a year left at Cardiff. "He was an amazing signing at the time and played well beyond his years and he complemented Connor. You forget we had Hooley (Luca Hoole) at 19, Connor 20 and James Connolly at 20, forming a back four in League Two which historically you’d want a few wily old foxes in those positions."
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