Luca Hoole was a breakout star of Bristol Rovers' promotion-winning team last season, making the leap from academy to first-team to nail down the right-back spot.
But Joey Barton sees Hoole's full potential being realised elsewhere on the pitch. The 20-year-old played 90 minutes at centre-back and kept a clean sheet in Rovers' final pre-season friendly against Stoke City on Tuesday, forming an impressive partnership with fellow Wales under-21 international James Connolly.
Rovers appear to have a place up for grabs in the heart of defence with Connor Taylor returning to parent club Stoke at the end of last season and, although Barton is keen for him to return on loan again, the Potters are yet to decide where his immediate future lies.
