Joey Barton has heaped praise on Celtic hero Scott Sinclair after he notched his first goal for Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.
The winger was making his first start for The Gas and scored the only strike in a 1-0 success over Rochdale. Sinclair joined the club he started his career with last month after time as a free agent, and is now working with former Rangers midfielder Barton as his boss.
Rovers' manager told Bristol Live was delighted to see his new recruit earn a proud moment: "His first start for Rovers and his first goal. It rounds the circle of his journey really nicely for him. I’m hoping that’s the first of many. I thought he was our best player on the day. It was nice for him to score and get the winner, and for it to be at Thatchers End, it was a nice moment for him and his family. I thought he was excellent."
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Sinclair himself has reacted to the emotional moment, stating on Instagram: "Ahhh I’ve missed this feeling, off the mark with a goal and into the hat for the next round."
Over four years at Parkhead, the 33-year-old endeared himself to the Celtic fans with stunning solo performances and a plethora of goals.
Overall he won three Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups before leaving in 2020 for Preston.
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