Inigo Calderon has insisted that Kofi Shaw “will have his minutes” for Bristol Rovers between now and the end of the season after the Gas opted to recall the teenager from his loan spell at Yeovil Town last week.
Shaw had seen his loan at the National League outfit extended until the end of the season in January alongside Dan Ellison at Aldershot Town but amid injuries in the camp, Rovers made the decision to bring the 18-year-old back to BS7.
The attack-minded midfielder came off the bench for a 12 minute cameo in the Gas’ 2-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers last Tuesday and was an unused substitute in the 2-1 loss at Northampton Town on Saturday.
However, Calderon has insisted that he is a fan of the Gas academy graduate and will hand him opportunities before the end of the season.
“I said that with Kofi, he’s a player I like a lot,” the Rovers boss told Bristol Live ahead of Saturday’s home game against Rotherham United. “Even when he went to Yeovil on loan, if I was selfish I want him to stay with us it’s because, as a coach, I think that he has to be with me because I want him to improve.
“So it was a bit selfish because at the end I think for him it was good to go on loan and to play and to have more means with another team. But at the same time we had the new problem with [Grant] Wardy. We thought there was a moment to call him back and, to be fair, what I’m seeing from him since he came back has been really good.
“As I say, it’s a player I like a lot. I don’t think we have to put any pressure on him because that will not be fair for him. But he will have his minutes 100 per cent because he trained really good and the most important thing after when he plays, the age doesn’t affect him. You could see against Wycombe, the time he played was really, really good. So comfortable with the pressure.
“So as I say, we cannot put pressure on him, but he will have his minutes 100 per cent.”
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Shaw has now made seven senior appearances for Rovers, six of which coming in League One with the teenager making his debut from the bench in a 2-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic on the final day of last season.
While at Yeovil, the midfielder made 16 appearances in the National League, scoring twice while also registering an assist as well as picking up a red card against Forest Green Rovers on New Year’s Day, a game in which he had scored.
Prior to his move to Huish Park in October, Shaw signed a new contract with the Gas running until summer 2027 and has won over supporters with his confidence, flair and trickery alongside the 18-year-old’s homegrown credentials.
His sole league start came in the 3-2 defeat at Peterborough United in September while he netted his first senior goal back in August in a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.