Joey Barton has warned goalkeeper James Belshaw that he may never play for Bristol Rovers again unless his attitude improves after the reigning Player of the Year was left out of the matchday squad against Ipswich Town.
Belshaw lost his place to Brentford loanee Ellery Balcombe four games ago and although he was included in squads against Morecambe and Lincoln City, missed the game against MK Dons due to a rib injury which required an injection.
Part of Balcombe’s loan deal with Brentford, with Rovers securing the 23-year-old after an impressive first half of the season at Crawley Town, included a clause that he had to start the first three games of his spell in north Bristol or the Gas would be liable for a fee.