Joey Barton believes Bristol Rovers did the right thing by taking no risks with a potential injury to Lewis Gibson as the Gas wait for news on the centre-back.
Gibson was forced off in the 59th minute of the New Year's Day win against Cheltenham Town at the Mem and a prolonged absence for the Everton loanee would be a significant loan for Gas boss Barton. Gibson being left-footed brings balance to the defence and enhances Rovers' ability to build attacks from the back.
The 22-year-old has played 17 times this season for Rovers in League One and although the Gas have a poor defensive record, they have generally been stronger with Gibson in the team after he missed several weeks with an ankle problem earlier in the season. Barton rates him very highly, too.
Gibson has endured more than his fair share of problems over the past two seasons, with loan stints at Reading and Sheffield Wednesday limited by injuries. At Rovers, he has been able to play more regularly, although there will be concern surrounding the muscle complaint that curtailed his outing against the Robins.
Barton, however, is hopeful any damage has been minimized and the pain stemmed from two taxing games in quick succession on a sodden Mem pitch after the December deluge in BS7.
"He felt his thigh a little bit," Barton explained. "Obviously, with the load of games and that pitch for two days, that’s a swamp out there. Trying to walk on it to get a feel, it’s really bad for football. It’s not like our pitch. There is a problem with the drainage, I think, after the deluge.
"The game was touch-and-go on Saturday and we were told at 7pm the game was going to be called off if it carried on raining because it’s that wet. Fortunately, it relented and the game was on, but the groundsmen have had a battle with it.
"For Gibbo, the load and the pitch have made him feel his thigh. He doesn’t think it’s that much. We’ll get him scanned.
"It was the right call for him to come out of the game because the last thing we want is him getting a long-term one because he is a massive player for us."
Barton expects players to come and go during the January transfer window, admitting the likes of Alfie Kilgour, Harvey Saunders and Zain Westbrooke could depart before the end of the month.
However, the manager said no exits are close to being sealed with the Gas in the midst of a busy time in the fixture list.
The manager said: "There are a few lads and they are in a tight bind at the minute because we are light on bodies and it’s a tough period. In the next few weeks, it will unfold and by the end of the window all of those lads will be wanting to play football elsewhere.
"But as football sometimes does, the story can be entirely different in a week’s time or a day’s time.
"We will work to get those lads the opportunities, but also we need to make sure that our group and our squad depth is not compromised.
"In the interim, we’re active at the moment. We usually tighten up in the January and add the bits we need to get better, and this January will be no different."
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