Joey Barton hopes Scott Sinclair will stay at Bristol Rovers long beyond the expiry of his contract in January, with the manager saying he would like to strike a deal before the transfer window opens.
Bath-born Sinclair rejoined his boyhood club in October on a short-term deal and scored in his first start, netting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Rochdale in the FA Cup earlier this month. With each passing game, the former Manchester City and Celtic winger – who played for Rovers twice in 2004/05 before earning a move to Chelsea – has gained sharpness and he has added quality and experience to Rovers' frontline.
Barton has made clear his position on Sinclair when the 33-year-old returned to the club; the manager wants him to stay in BS7 for the long haul.
