The 27-year-old midfielder hit three goals in three games following his return from a hamstring injury two weeks ago – a tally that matched his combined return over the previous three seasons.
Making his first appearance of the campaign, super-sub Close grabbed a 96th-minute winner at Forest Green to earn Rovers a belated maiden League Two victory in 2023-24.
Then, following a 71-minute run-out in the EFL Trophy against Everton U21s, he bagged a brace in last weekend’s 2-1 triumph over then table-toppers Gillingham.
His goal spurt might have raised an eyebrow or two, but Close did once net 15 times over two League One seasons for home-town club Portsmouth and, while confessing that his long-range strike at Forest Green was an unintended fluke, it also gave him the encouragement to try his luck twice from distance with spectacular rewards against the Gills.
Spells
This story is from the October 01, 2023 edition of The Football League Paper.
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This story is from the October 01, 2023 edition of The Football League Paper.
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