Bristol Rovers have secured the long-term future of promising right-back Luca Hoole, with the 19-year-old agreeing a two-year contract extension.
Hoole, whose current deal was due to expire in the summer, is now on a fresh agreement in north Bristol until 2024 to continue his development at the club having first signed eight years ago.
The Wales Under-19 international, who can also play in midfield, has risen through the ranks with the Gas and after earning his debut under Graham Coughlan in 2019 made his first-team breakthrough this season.
"I am absolutely buzzing to sign this extension with the club I have been at since I was 11," Hoole said. "I've always wanted to play at The Mem and, hopefully, now I can keep progressing and play a lot more games for the club."
Hoole took his chance to impress Joey Barton in pre-season, with his strong performances in training, friendlies and the early matches of the 2021/22 season convincing the manager that he didn't need to add another right-back before the August transfer deadline.
He has been a strong performer defensively at right-back and on the right of a back three. The next stage of his progression will be developing his attacking influence.
He is one of three academy products in the current first-team set-up under Barton, alongside fellow defender Alfie Kilgour and goalkeeper Jed Ward. Top-scorer Aaron Collins was previously in the youth set-up but left in his early teens to join Newport County.
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