Steve Evans has explained the decision to keep Taylor Moore out of the Bristol Rovers squad for the last seven League Two games, while also saying that he’d be keen to look at some of the club’s “younger players” if the Gas secure their EFL status in the next few matches.
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Moore has started five league games under Evans, most recently against Cambridge United in the 3-1 on February 14. But following his 24-minute cameo against Oldham Athletic a few days later, the 28-year-old has not featured for Rovers and has not been included in any matchday squad since.
The former Bristol City defender joined the Gas last summer on a three-year deal, with an option for a further year. Since then, he has made 64 appearances for the club, but his exclusion from the squad in the last seven games under Evans suggests he might not be part of the 63-year-old’s plans if he extends his stay beyond this summer.
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When asked by Bristol Live if Moore is a player we could see before the end of the season if Rovers have secured their EFL status early, which is very possible given the 13-point gap to the relegation zone, Evans said: “I think Taylor’s had quite a lot of games, hasn’t he? So he’s probably not jumping to the front of my mind.
“You know, I’d like to look a lot more at Tom Lockyer, you know, but it’s been pretty difficult when you’ve got captain courageous in the building and Alfie’s really come back to form Alfie, from, being off a little bit. He’s really stood up in these last few weeks.
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“Kofi Balmer and Riley Harbottle’s in the building, so it’s difficult for Taylor. But if the opportunity arises, I wouldn’t hesitate in playing him. He’s a good kid.”
With seven games to go and Rovers’ League Two status nearly secured for the 2026/27 campaign, the head coach added that younger players could be given a chance to ensure that he has “a good look at everything here,” especially if he agrees to stay at the club.
“Gasheads, come here on Saturday. Let’s get three points,” he said. “Let’s get three points nearer where we’ve secured our future.
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“Then I could open myself up to to looking at some of our younger players and getting them minutes on the pitch and maybe results may dip a little bit, but they won’t dip significantly because we’ll be shrewd.
“I’ve tried to be shrewd when we’ve put them in, but if I’m going to be around, I need to have a good look at everything here, not just some.”
Evans has previously discussed the importance of Rovers’ academy, saying back in February: “Yeah, we’re not as close to the academy up here now at the present time as we should be. I’d love to have them up here every day – five or six of them every day.
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“But suddenly two or three of them are coming up every week, and we’re having a good look. It’s important that we have the fans say one of our own, but it’s important that young Kian [Hill] and two or three others make it into the first-team squad, and we desperately want that to happen.”
Next up for the Gas is a home game against Accrington Stanley on Saturday, as they look to move one step closer to securing their EFL status for next season.
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