Sylvester Jasper is full of confidence that he can make a positive impact at Bristol Rovers when manager Joey Barton gives him a starting chance. The winger, on loan from Fulham, has shown glimpses of his ability in cameos off the bench but he is craving an opportunity to impress from the start.
Rovers need a spark after a seven-game winless run and Jasper could be the man to provide it. The 21-year-old is a tricky dribbler and with a playing style unlike any other at the manager's disposal and is in contention to make his first start for the Gas against Exeter City on Saturday.
Should he get the opportunity, it is clear the former Colchester and Hibernian winger is not short of belief in himself. Jasper, who has made four substitute appearances for Rovers, feels his specific skillset can be an asset to the team.
"I’m really enjoying my time here training and when I get on the pitch, I feel like I am doing good things for the team, so I want to keep on playing and playing more often and, hopefully, the fans and everyone can see what I am really about," he said.
"I have come here to play games and not just sit around, so hopefully, with the performances when I come on and in training, the gaffer can see that I deserve to start. That’s what I wanna do. All I wanna do is play football and just help the team as much as I can. I know I am capable and if I play more, the team will be better, so I am confident.
"The club wouldn’t have brought me here if they didn’t see an opportunity for me to play. I’m a different player but if I can be used positively, I can have a really good effect on the team. I’m going to keep working, get my head down and hopefully, an opportunity comes for me to start, which I am sure it will, I’m going to take it and stay in the team."
Last season was split into two loan spells for Jasper. The first half of the year was spent in League Two with Colchester, scoring three goals, and a move north of the border to Hibs followed, providing two assists but going goalless in 16 games.
Jasper believes he learned a lot from his time in Scotland, not only playing top-flight football in front of big, passionate crowds but also that he needs to make a greater impact on the scoreline. A glance at his film from last season shows the flair and X-factor he has on the ball, but as he matures he wants to channel that into greater productivity.
With promotion heroes Elliot Anderson, Sam Nicholson and Luke Thomas all playing elsewhere this season, Barton's options in wide areas are depleted. Harry Anderson and Aaron Collins remain, although playing the latter out wide could sacrifice some of the scoring threat he possesses and Barton has stated his preference to play with front twos at the moment.
Anderson, meanwhile, is more of straight lines runner that stretches teams and tracks back manfully to do his defensive duties. Jasper, in comparison, is something different. Barton described his signing as a "spin of the wheel" and that is a fitting description of a player who will try to take risks when he has the ball.
"Coming off the back of last season, it was the thing that I looked at," he added. "I was like 'Cool, I am playing well and doing all these nice things but now I need to start scoring more'. That’s the thing I have been learning for myself, it’s definitely a thing I have been working on. When the gaffer decides to play me, the fans will see that as well.
"The quality isn’t too different (in Scotland). Here is the third tier and there is the top tier. It was a really good experience playing in front of places like Hampden Park, Rangers' stadium and Celtic’s.
"I feel that I am alright with that. It doesn’t phase me at all playing in front of big crowds. I really like to embrace it. I’ve heard there are a few hostile atmospheres in League One, it won't faze me, it’s just football."
Jasper has made four appearances for Bulgaria's under-21s over the past year, but he has options at international level. His mother is Bulgarian, his father is Nigerian and he is also eligible to play for England – winning two caps for the under-15 side in 2016.
London-born Jasper has enjoyed the experience of playing for Bulgaria, although he admits he is yet to decide where his international future lies.
He explained: "My mum is fully Bulgarian, my dad is from Nigeria. Last season, I represented them for the first time. It was a nice experience. My family are from Bulgaria, my family got to see me play for the first time live which was cool.
"I haven’t decided what country I am going to be playing for yet. I could represent England, Nigeria or Bulgaria. I feel like I am good enough to play for all three personally. I’m taking it one step at a time, I’ve got to establish a place in the team and start playing how I know I can play. We’ll see what happens."
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