Joey Barton joked that he’s reticent to praise Bristol Rovers goalscorer Josh Coburn too much, out of fear of perking interest at Middlesbrough and causing Michael Carrick to recall the striker.
Coburn scored for the second successive game for the Gas with a wonderful finish to secure a point against Sheffield Wednesday. The 19-year-old seized upon Antony Evans’ pass, which was dummied by Aaron Collins, before lifting the ball over David Stockdale.
It was Coburn’s third goal for Rovers since signing on loan at the end of the summer window and while his impact has been delayed due to a knee injury, he’s proving another astute piece of business by Barton and his recruitment team.
Nicknamed the “Teesside Haaland” by his teammates, the tall and rangy blond striker is averaging a goal every 94 minutes and adds yet another goalscoring threat to a Gas side already possessing Collins and Loft, plus John Marquis to recover from injury, and Scott Sinclair and Harvey Saunders from wider positions.
Coburn is on a season-long loan but with Carrick having taken over at the Riverside this week, Barton admits he doesn’t want to attract too much attention regarding the striker’s progress in the South West.
“I better be quiet with what I’m saying because Michael Carrick has gone in there and the last thing we want is for Middlesbrough to recall him,” Barton told Sky Sports. “He had a period out and we had to wait and be patient with him but he’s rewarded our patience and he’s really added to our team.
“I thought that when Lofty went off, I thought we were going to win that game. Losing Ryan was a big blow for us but the lads not only absorbed conceding that goal but then the finish was a moment of real quality from Josh and I think he’s got an enormous future.”
Coburn will almost certainly keep his place for Saturday’s trip to Derby County and could be leading the line as Rovers wait for more detail around Loft’s injury, which caused the 25-year-old to leave the game at Hillsborough in the 31st minute.
Coburn’s development is being closely watched by Boro fans at large after showing glimpses of his talent last season, most notably in scoring the winner against Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup fifth round tie.
“I mean, I’ll take it,” Coburn told Sky Sports, of his new nickname. “I’ve just got to keep scoring, keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully the goals keep coming, that’s all I can.
“He’s not a right-footer, so hopefully he would have been happy with that,” Coburn joked, when asked if Manchester City’s Erling Haaland would have been impressed with his finish.
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