Evans 'confident' Balmer will return to Rovers

Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans is "confident" that centre-back Kofi Balmer will be back at the club next season following his loan spell.

Balmer has returned to parent club Motherwell having signed for Gas in January and went on to play every minute of all but one league game.

"I know that chief executive and our chairman have been in long dialogue with the people who have looked after Kofi," Evans told BBC Radio Bristol's Having a Gas.

"Motherwell have been fantastic to deal with as well - I'm confident that in time Kofi will be with us for sure."

The 25-year-old has also played for Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon while on loan from Crystal Palace, before moving to the Scottish Premiership side in 2024.

Balmer arrived at Bristol Rovers having had minimal game time with Motherwell but Evans said he had been "nothing short of exceptional" during his time at the club.

"When he's got into his run of games and his second wind and training every day and with the tempo to play the games, he's been nothing short of exceptional for us," Evans said.

"We signed the lad who had been an international, who had come away from the international scene, Kofi has played in the last six or eight weeks like a full international player for Bristol Rovers.

"I've got no doubt he'll obtain that status again if or when he joins us."

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Midfielder Richie Smallwood, who similarly spent the second half of this season on loan with the club from Tranmere, has also been offered a deal to return.