Joey Barton has revealed he hopes to keep Barnsley loanee Luke Thomas at Bristol Rovers beyond this season, but the manager admits the situation is out of his hands.
Thomas is coming to the end of a season-long loan at the Mem and his time in BS7 has been turbulent. The Rovers manager criticised his professionalism and the 23-year-old has had to spend much of the season out of starting contention after admitting he had "let people down".
But behind the scenes, he has kept plugging away and the former Derby County and Coventry City winger was rewarded with a chance off the bench with Rovers chasing a goal against Salford City on Good Friday. Thomas paid Barton back with an impactful cameo, assisting Elliot Anderson for the winner in a crucial victory for the Gas in their promotion bid.
