A frustrating season for Luke McCormick will continue to the very end with the Bristol Rovers midfielder set to miss Sunday's final game against Bolton Wanderers at the Mem.
After signing as Joey Barton's top target last summer, the 24-year-old has endured a campaign to forget, struggling to find any momentum or a regular place in the team.
To add to his frustration, McCormick was due to feature heavily in the back end of the season with Barton eager to build his confidence and rhythm, but he has been unavailable for the past three games due to dental trouble, which has not eased ahead of Sunday's finale.
McCormick was outstanding as a loan player for the Gas two years ago. His season-long stay from Chelsea was one of the few positives from a miserable season as the club finished bottom of League One, earning him the chance to stay in the third tier with AFC Wimbledon.
He was equally impressive at Plough Lane last season despite being relegated for the second year in a row, mustering eight goals and nine assists in 47 appearances in all competitions, prompting the Gas to make an approach to sign him on a permanent deal in 2022 upon their return to League One. McCormick was desperate to leave, but the Dons dug their heels in and it dragged on for several months.
He was exiled by Wimbledon until Rovers bid a six-figure fee and he was allowed to depart, but in that time he missed out on a significant portion of the pre-season programme, and Barton believes that is the reason behind a forgettable season comprising of no goals and a single assist in 21 league appearances, 12 of which came from the bench.
"He’s struggling with his wisdom teeth," Barton said. "He probably needs them out so his season is done for me, that’s how I see it. We want to get a good pre-season into him.
"I think he’s relieved he hasn’t suffered his third relegation, but this season hasn’t gone to plan. I’ve said to the lads that momentum and form are not things you can turn off and on.
"Macca is one of those who is guilty of missing a pre-season. He had a problem getting out of the club he was at and he was sent with the under-23s and missed a big chunk of pre-season and it has cost him. He hasn’t been able to hit the ground running."
Fifth-place Bolton's participation in the play-offs is secured ahead of Sunday's game, meaning boss Ian Evatt could be tempted to rotate his squad to avoid any injuries.
Nevertheless, Barton is expecting a difficult challenge as he and his players look to end the season on a high note in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mem.
"They are a good side," Barton said. "We know from going up there earlier in the season that they are a good side. I will pick as strong a team as I can. We will see where the bodies are.
"You want to see where you are compared to those top chasing sides. We’ve done really well against the better teams, it’s the lump-it teams that we struggle against so we are going to have to change that next season.
"Hopefully, we can cause Bolton some problems on Sunday. They’ve got one eye on what’s to come and we might just catch them but we’ve got to be at our best, certainly better than we were at the start of each half on Tuesday.
"It’s important we finish well. We haven’t won in five or six, so we want to finish in our stadium in front of a sold-out Mem, which is superb, on a positive and send the Gasheads away with a spring in their step and excited about what’s to come next season.
"It’s natural, once you’re safe and there is nothing to play for, that the season kind of peters out, but we need to make sure we give a great account of ourselves in front of our fans on Sunday."
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