Bristol Rovers’ five loanees – Joel Cotterill, Kacper Lopata, Stephan Negru, Alfie Chang, and Freddie Issaka – are set to return to their parent clubs, Bristol Live understands(Image: Will Cooper/Shutterstock)

Bristol Rovers’ five loanees – Joel Cotterill, Kacper Lopata, Stephan Negru, Alfie Chang, and Freddie Issaka – are set to return to their parent clubs, Bristol Live understands, as the Gas look to reshape their squad in the early part of the January transfer window.

Isaac Hutchinson has also been recalled from Cheltenham Town after talks with Steve Evans at The Quarters Training Facility on Monday, as per Jon Palmer of Gloucestershire Live.

Cotterill has played 16 times for the Gas in all competitions, scoring his only goal in the 2-1 win at Bromley in the first round of the FA Cup .

He has arguably been the best performer of the five loanees and has been unlucky not to add to his goal tally, hitting the post against Cheltenham and Notts County and seeing a first-half strike against Barnet ruled out for offside.

OPINION

READ MORE: Isaac Hutchinson recalled by Bristol Rovers from Cheltenham Town loan

With Hutchinson to return and new signing Ryan De Havilland seen predominantly as a number eight by Peterborough United supporters, the 21-year-old’s time in North Bristol looks to be coming to an end.

Lopata has played 17 times for Rovers this season, playing an important role in the eight-match unbeaten run under Darrell Clarke earlier in the campaign. He returned from an injury against Notts County before receiving a straight red card against Swindon Town in Clarke’s final game in charge. The centre-back started against Shrewsbury Town, but was withdrawn with a knock at half-time.

Kacper Lopata gestures during Bristol Rovers…(Image: Photo by Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Negru arrived at Rovers on deadline day with an injury that kept him out until October. He has made 10 appearances in all competitions so far, with his last cameo coming in the 1-0 defeat against Port Vale in the FA Cup.

Chang, like Cotterill, has looked bright at times in the middle in what has been a challenging period for Rovers, making 19 appearances and registering three assists. He has been a substitute in the last two league games, though, coming on for 10 and 39 minutes against Barnet and Shrewsbury, respectively.

(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

Finally, despite some Rovers fans wanting Issaka to play more frequently under Clarke and Evans, his game time in BS7 has been extremely limited, making only nine appearances for the Gas, including only one start against Cambridge United in the round of 32 of the Vertu Trophy.

In terms of a returning loanee, Hutchinson will come back to BS7 after eight goals and three assists since joining Cheltenham on September 1.

A day after his departure to the Robins, Rovers released a statement condemning the abuse directed towards him and his wife. Since then, he has excelled under Steve Cotterill, helping to lift them nine points ahead of Evans’ side in League Two.

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Hutchinson has largely played as a number eight for Cheltenham, and if Chang and Cotterill are to depart, he would add to the competition in this area of the pitch alongside new signing De Havilland and Kamil Conteh, especially if Evans sticks with the 4-3-3 used in recent games.

Next up for the Gas is a round of 16 Vertu Trophy clash against Plymouth Argyle on January 13 at The Mem, followed by a home game against Colchester United in League Two four days later.

READ MORE: Bristol Rovers stadium plans latest as club ‘explore’ moving from The MemBristol Rovers Live on Whatsapp

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