Josh Grant's season appears to be over after the Bristol Rovers utility player underwent knee surgery on Thursday. The 23-year-old has been plagued by injuries throughout his time at the Mem and he faces a long spell another on the sidelines.
Grant, who can play across defence and midfield, has made just a single substitute appearance this season due to a niggling knee issues stemming from his patellar tendons. After having surgery this morning, he is set to have another operation in the coming weeks on the other knee.
Rovers are hopeful this is the answer to Grant's injury woes, and manager Joey Barton insists they will support him through his recovery.
"Josh has had surgery this morning, so that probably puts paid to his season," Barton said. "That’s a tricky one, he’s got to get through one surgery and then he might need a little bit more surgery and we’re hoping that will get to the bottom of it.
"Josh is a player we’re keen to keep, so we’ll have a chat with him and his representatives. Hopefully we’re going to fix him and this is the end of his setbacks and we think there is still enough juice in the player.
"He’s a really good player and I think he’s still got his best years out in front of him, so from our perspective it rights him off this season, but we’re hoping to get him back in pre-season and it will be like signing a new player. Josh is a top kid and we’re going to support him in this period."
Barton has made no secret of his admiration for former Chelsea prospect Grant, who joined the Gas in 2020. He described him as his "favourite player" last season and he has raved about his football IQ, believing a career in coaching awaits when he hangs his boots up.
But Barton believes he still has plenty to give as a player, admitting he is a huge miss for the Gas for the rest of the season.
"A fully fit Josh Grant starts," Barton added. "I don’t know what position he starts in, but he starts because he is such an intelligent player. We’re talking about building a tactically fluid team and Josh coaches on the pitch when he’s out there. If you watch games back, you can see him do it and he just understands what we’re looking for.
"When you’ve got a player like that out there, it’s more than a player. It’s more confidence and information that goes on out there because instead of us screaming on the touchline, you’ve got a player there saying you need to do this or that. For us, that is the frustration because I think everyone is aware of how talented Josh is, none more so than Josh himself, and it must be soul-destroying to have setbacks and be in the gyms. Honestly, it’s the worst place to be as a player.
"It’s way harder being injured as a player than when you’re fit. When you’re fit, the game of football is easy. When you’re injured, you’re on that assault bike and lifting weights on your own and you’re hanging around with the physios. It’s soul-destroying and all you want to do is be back out on the grass and having a game of footy with your mates. Josh has had a long spell, so it’s just fingers crossed that this is the issue resolved.
"If your kneecap is disintegrating because of a biomechanical issue, just the way you’re born, then that isn’t going to give you longevity in the game, but we feel that this operation takes that away and should allow Josh to fulfil his potential.
"If Josh would have been injury-free, you probably wouldn’t have got to him. He’d have been good enough to get in and around Chelsea’s first team, and if not then certainly he wouldn’t miss that by far, which puts you at a very good stage. The reason he is here is he has had a lot of setbacks and hopefully this can turn the corner for him."
Grant has made 66 appearances for the Gas in all competitions, scoring four goals. Twenty-two of his appearances came in League Two last season, performing well as a left-back and chipping in with three goals until the knee issues curtailed his campaign.
The former Plymouth Argyle man is out of contract at the end of the season, but Barton says Rovers plan to hold discussions with the player about securing his future.
"We haven’t had a chat with his agent or representative yet, but I think that conversation is coming," Barton said. "We’ve had some chats at power level at our club, the owner is aware of it, Tom Gorringe is aware of it, Eddy Jennings is aware of it. We don’t leave anyone behind and this could be the root of Josh’s setbacks. It’s sad it’s taken until he’s 23 to find it, but he could be 33.
"I do believe if we get him through this, we’ve got a really good player. I think he’s a really good player and he’s got a right chance. He’s only just had surgery this morning and there is a long way to go, but we want to support Josh."
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