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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
John Evely

Defender leaves Bristol Rovers and goes straight into side to face Bayern Munich

Young Reading defender Gabriel Osho has returned to his parent club two months ahead of schedule having failed to make an impact at Bristol Rovers.

The centre-back joined the Gas in the January transfer window to provide cover at the back and allow the like of Rollin Menayese to go out on loan to Aldershot Town and get valuable first team experience having spent the first half of the season on the bench.

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The 20-year-old had originally joined Rovers for the rest of the season Graham Coughlan saying he saw the player, who was his first signing as manager, as a long-term project.

Osho made the matchday squad on a regular basis for Rovers but never featured for the senior side.

Gabriel Osho of Bristol Rovers arrives at Roots Hall prior to kick off (Ryan Hiscott/JMP)

When he did play for the development side he failed to set the world alight as he looked lightweight at times playing senior football.

In recent weeks Osho has fallen further down the centre-back ranks with Coughlan opting to give 20-year-old Alfie Kilgour his first-team debut in the final moments of the 1-0 win at Gillingham and then full debut in the 2-2 draw away at Plymouth Argyle, having recalled him from loan at National League side Maidenhead.

And Kilgour’s rise continues, he captained the club’s development side in their 3-2 win over Exeter City U23s in the Central League yesterday, opening the scoring with a header. Rhys Kavanagh and Theo Widdrington scored the other goals for Rovers.

(Get Reading)

Osho is highly thought of at Reading and went straight into the Royals' U23s side as captain in their 3-1 Premier League International Cup semi-final defeat by Bayern Munich on Monday night.

Reading U23s boss Scott Marshall said: "Loans are part of the development plan. It's there but it doesn't suit everyone.

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"We have a look and see what's right for each player and what experience they need.

"We weigh it all up and it's a detailed thought process which goes into each player.

"Loans are part of it and they don't do harm for some. But we have to see them playing."

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