Clarkson Trains With Rovers

It has emerged today that former Bristol City striker David Clarkson, who was released after three years in May, had trained with Rovers yesterday and is likely to play a part in our first pre-season friendly against a Royal Marines XI tomorrow afternoon.

The Scottish forward came through the ranks at SPL side Motherwell and during the latter years of his time there he was managed by Mark McGhee, so the two have enjoyed a working relationship previously. He performed excellently and scored a number of goals in the 2008-09 season, winning himself an £800,000 move to City over the following summer. Hopes and expectations were high as Clarkson had earned himself his first Scottish international appearance the year before and wanted to play more regularly for his country. His time in south Bristol has proven much more challenging than he or the club would have imagined with injuries, illness and management changes putting pay to him making too much of an impact. He scored 11 goals in just under 70 appearances and although that doesn't appear many it's important to bare in mind that a significant number of his appearances came from the substitutes bench. He joined League One side Brentford on loan last season and scored once in 4 appearances before returning to the Robins and sustaining an ankle injury, ruling him out until the end of the campaign.

Following his inevitable departure 2 months ago, City fans were split on their opinions of the expensive attacker. Some recall moments of real quality that Clarkson produced, albeit on an inconsistent basis, and felt he suffered terrible luck with the injuries he picked up, whilst others felt he was a complete waste of the money City paid for his services and they were happy to see him leave.

He of course produced his best form under McGhee and it has been speculated for a number of weeks that he would likely be a target for ambitious Rovers this summer, although rumours were quashed by some Gasheads who felt we would be unable to attract him to join us in League Two. It seems though that he is keen to reunite with his fellow countryman and if he gets a good feel from the club and McGhee can see he is fully fit, a deal could well be on the cards. It would be somewhat of a coup for Rovers and would certainly intensify excitement ahead of next season. You do have to wonder whether a deal could be closer to completion than the club are currently letting on because by stating he is training with us could alert other clubs to his availability. It will be interesting to see how this progresses over the coming days.

Elsewhere and it looks as if a return for Leicester City duo Tom Parkes and Cian Bolger is a long way from being finalised, with McGhee now admitting he is beginning to look elsewhere for 2 centre halves should we not seal their signatures. Aside from that and it's been confirmed that as of yesterday there were no trialists with the club but there could be a couple joining over the weekend. Curtis Weston, released by Gillingham, is one player that has been linked with Rovers this week so he could be one of the players who links up with the rest of the team in the next day or two.

Joe Anyinsah had been told at the end of last season that although he is under contract for next season, it may be in his best interests to search for a new club. However McGhee has now explained that Anyinsah has returned to training in good shape and has impressed so far, leaving the possibility of staying with the club a little more likely.

Developments will start coming to a climax on all recruitment fronts in the very near future, so stand by for further news.