Former Bristol Rovers midfielder Zain Westbrooke is training with League Two side Walsall following his release by the Gas.
Westbrooke was one of five players to leave BS7 in the January window as his contract, which still had six months to run, was terminated by mutual consent on January 23 leaving the 26-year-old free to find a new club.
The former Coventry City midfielder had struggled for game time under Joey Barton, becoming a peripheral figure for much of the last two years, and his last start for the Gas was on October 18 against Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy.
The Express and Star report that Walsall, under Michael Flynn, have allowed Westbrooke to train with them as he looks to stay fit, although there’s no indication at present whether the Saddlers, who lie 14th in League Two, will pursue a move.
Westbrooke was signed by Rovers in the summer of 2020 having played a role in Coventry’s promotion into the Championship representing something of a coup for the Gas, with Ben Garner at the helm.
However, despite his lofty billing and obvious technical qualities, Westbrooke struggled to make a consistent impact in north Bristol and after Barton’s appointment in February 2021 he slowly started to fall down the pecking order.
The former Brentford trainee spent the second half of Rovers’ promotion campaign on loan at League Two Stevenage but was a surprise starter in the opening game of this season against Forest Green Rovers, albeit with Barton singling him out for criticism after the defeat.
Since then his only involvement was in the EFL Trophy and the last time he was named in a matchday squad was as an unused substitute in a 4-1 win over MK Dons on December 13, although Barton has regularly praised his character and attitude.
Westbrooke was one of a quintet of peripheral squad players to depart the Gas in January along with defenders Alfie Kilgour (Mansfield), Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers, loan), Bobby Thomas (Burnley, loan return) and forward Harvey Saunders (Tranmere Rovers).
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