"I would be utterly gobsmacked" - Bristol Rovers player predicted to return to Blackburn Rovers | OneFootball

The midfielder has struggled at the Memorial Stadium so far this season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Bristol Rovers have had an inconsistent opening four months to the season, one that has seen them settle in the middle of the pack in League One after 17 games.

The Gas enjoyed a superb 1-0 win away at Mansfield Town on Saturday, before falling to a 2-0 defeat against Blackpool in mid-week.

It was another game that Blackburn Rovers loanee, Jake Garrett, had to sit and watch rather than play, with the 21-year-old still struggling for minutes in the south-west after making the switch in the summer.

With the January transfer window coming up, the Championship side do have the option to recall the midfielder, and it's an option that they may take considering the lack of substantial game-time that he has had so far at Bristol Rovers.

Verdict made on Garrett's chances of returning to Blackburn

It's been a difficult campaign so far for Garrett, and he has featured only six times in League One since joining the Gas in August.

He made 28 appearances for Blackburn last season, and while some may have expected him to play a larger role at Ewood Park in 2024/25, John Eustace saw this campaign as an ample opportunity to ensure him consistent minutes.

However, that has not happened, and Football League World has asked their Bristol Rovers Fan Pundit, Joshua Hemmings, if he believes that the Lancashire club will recall their youngster in January.

He told FLW: "I would be utterly gobsmacked if Jake Garrett does not go back to Blackburn in January. He's just not playing.

"He's had moments where he’s shown glimpses, but overall, he’s just been a little bit under par, and maybe you can say that’s because of a lack of opportunity or whatever, but you're that highly rated in the Championship, surely you play for a League One club."

Joshua concluded: "He's definitely going back, but Blackburn will not be happy with his minutes or his development with us, so it's without question that he will return. He's decent, but it's fair to say the Gasheads didn't really get to see what the hype was all about."

Garrett has not had the chance to show his talent

While he has not perhaps given the best impression of himself at times, it can be said that Garrett has not had the chance to prove himself to Matt Taylor and the rest of the Bristol Rovers coaching staff on the pitch.

He started the loan spell well, but it has slowly got more and more difficult for the 21-year-old and a 4-0 defeat to Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy proved to be a decisive moment in his career at the Memorial Stadium.

He started against Exeter City in the same competition, but has not featured in a game since, instead starting on the bench or not making the squad at all.

Blackburn will be incredibly frustrated by this banishment from the starting XI that their player is suffering at the moment, and it would not at all be a surprise to see Garrett recalled in January and sent to another League One club to get his development back on track.