Fit-again Daniel Leadbitter is pushing for a place in Graham Coughlan's starting XI after completing a full 90 minutes during Bristol Rovers Development Squad's 2-1 victory over MK Dons.
Explosive right-back Leadbitter has played just 24 minutes under Coughlan since he took over from Darrell Clarke on December 13 but has been plagued with injury problems, restricting his first-team involvement.
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Coughlan insisted last month that Leadbitter would prove a "big player" for the Gas upon his return to full fitness and that moment could be edging ever closer following the win at Stadium MK.
Rovers fielded a strong starting XI also including Alex Rodman, who was 71st minute substitute in the 3-2 win over Bradford City on Saturday, defender Joe Partington, midfielder Chris Lines, forward Alex Jakubiak while Alfie Kilgour captained the side.
Leadbitter's return is pertinent because while Coughlan has made Rovers compact and difficult to break down, they have on occasions lacked width and pace and his switch to a 4-3-3 in the second-half against Bradford proved integral to the Gas eventually claiming the three points.
Leadbitter is arguably the quickest player at the club and is also a natural right-footer so gives Coughlan another option beyond James Clarke, if he chooses to adopt a more attacking mindset .
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As the manager said last month : "I hope over the next couple of weeks Leads will be back for us because he certainly would have had more game time and probably been a big, big player for us because we have needed those legs and that energy down that side of the pitch.
“He gives us that bit of pace which we don’t naturally have in the rest of the squad."
Teenage striker Deon Moore, who has been training with the first team following a loan at Bath City, scored both goals and is another individual to keep an eye on with four games remaining in the League One season and Rovers edging ever closer to safety.
