"I think he’s done remarkably well," Joey Barton said of Aaron Collins as last season edged towards its remarkable conclusion. Collins, Barton said, had found a "niche" in Bristol Rovers' team.
That role was as a number nine, a position the former Newport County and Forest Green Rovers forward was not entirely accustomed to. His natural talents lend well to the number 10 position or out wide, but he would make the job his own with 18 goals helping power the Gas to promotion.
Albeit against weaker opposition at Melksham Town in Rovers' opening pre-season friendly on Friday, Collins was menacing as Rovers' leading man, scoring a fine goal and causing much of the danger as the Gas hurried into a 3-0 first-half lead.
