Middlesbrough striker Josh Coburn is poised to join Bristol Rovers on loan, as Joey Barton looks to strengthen his squad across a number of departments on deadline day.
Sky Sports have reported that the 19-year-old has agreed a loan move to the Mem and Bristol Live understands that to be true with the teenager expected to join Fulham winger Sylvester Jasper on deadline day.
Coburn started his career with Sunderland’s academy before joining Middlesbrough at age 16 and he has 26 senior appearances under his belt, albeit mostly as a substitute, with six goals in all competitions, having made his debut for the club when he was 18 in the Championship.
Coburn reinforces the striker department for Barton, adding to John Marquis, Ryan Loft, Harvey Saunders and Aaron Collins, although the latter two have increasingly been played in withdrawn or wide roles for the Gas.
At 6ft 3ins, Coburn can play as a targetman through the middle akin to Loft, but also has the ability and agility to stretch defences. His finest moment to date came when he scored the winner for Boro in an FA Cup fifth round triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in March.
He was on the bench for Boro’s season opener against West Brom, emerging as a second-half substitute at the Riverside but has since suffered a knee injury which has limited his involvement.
He’s not thought to be fully fit yet, with Chris Wilder’s original prognosis being 6-8 weeks, meaning Gasheads may have to wait until the end of September before he’s involved in League One action. Barton will think he has enough in the squad to manage the situation until then with Coburn an option as the winter months draw in.
With a winger Jasper and a striker Coburn secured, Rovers will now likely focus on the defence with the need for two centre-backs following James Connolly’s unfortunate injury.
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