Bristol Rovers hope to find a loan destination for Ryan Jones this season with the versatile young full-back having been among the more impressive individual performers in the early stages of the pre-season programme.
Rovers have rotated their teams across the two wins against Melksham Town and Eastleigh, with nearly four different starting XIs for each half of the 180 minutes, minus one exception: Jones has been the Gas’ left-back on each occasion, playing more minutes than any other player in the squad.
Having impressed in the 9-0 victory over Melksham, he built on that display on Saturday at Silverlake Stadium with a performance that was a good mixture of defensive tenacity, positioning and athleticism in tandem with Scott Sinclair.
With Lewis Gordon sidelined with a calf strain, Jones’ cause has unquestionably benefitted from being the only current option in the position, with the arrival of George Friend on a free transfer slightly altering that dynamic, but the 21-year-old has undoubtedly seized his opportunity.
But, speaking after the 2-0 win over Eastleigh, first-team coach Andy Mangan admitted the Gas’ immediate plans for the former Weston-super-mare talent is for a temporary destination where he can play regularly. Jones spent last season at Hungerford Town in the Conference South but, as he demonstrated on the weekend, Rovers’ preference is for him to play higher up the pyramid.
“I thought Ryan Jones was excellent today,” Mangan said. “Jonesey has got all the ability in the world, the thing with him, and where he needs to improve is he needs to be a little bit more vocal, a bit more demanding of the players around him.
“If he was looking for a loan, I think he’s proved the Conference won’t be too difficult for him. He’s still developing and growing up but we’re very proud of Jonesey.
“Long-term plan for him would be to loan him out, the lad needs games. Young players need to be exposed to these minutes to get the experience and come into the first-team and contribute.”
The win at Eastleigh ensured 20 members of the senior squad got at least 45 minutes in their legs with academy products Will Larvin and Charlie White also getting onto the field again.
The only notable absentees were Gordon, who also missed the friendly at Melksham after sustaining a calf injury in the first week of pre-season, Josh Grant, whose minutes are being managed after missing the whole of the 2022/23 season with knee problems and Jordan Rossiter who remains out, also with a knee issue.
“He’s not too far away,” Mangan added, of Gordon. “Flash has worked so hard in the off-season and he’s come back and just felt something in his calf. It’s nothing major, he’ll be fine. He’ll be back in a week, maybe less.
“The squad’s looking strong, we’re delighted with it. The lads have come back and been really fit which has allowed us to go straight into the football. They’ve been working hard running-wise, because we believe you have to run and be really fit. All the good pre-seasons I ever had, you ran, and everyone knows how fit you have to be to be at full tilt for the 46 games.
“Josh Grant just had a little niggle. Obviously he had an operation last season, so these little niggles he might pick up and that’s something we’ll have to manage ourselves and be a little bit cuter with Josh. As everyone knows, we love Josh, but he’ll be fine as well.”
Rovers take on Cardiff City in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday followed by Saturday's trip to face Brentford B at Imber Court, which could mean Gordon returns to take on his former club.
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