Tranmere Rovers have announced that they have extended the contracts of wingers Josh Hawkes and Kieron Morris by 12 months, as confirmed via the club’s official website.
Hawkes, 25, initially joined Rovers on loan from Sunderland in September 2021 before making his stay permanent by signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club the following January. Morris also initially joined on a loan deal from Walsall in January 2019 before making his move permanent the following Summer.
Speaking to Tranmere’s club website, the former Walsall man commented on his new deal saying:
“I am delighted to be staying with the Club for another year. I have enjoyed my last six years here and it now feels like home.”
Hawkes also commented on his extension, saying:
“I’m really happy to be extending my stay with the Club. The fans’ support towards me over the last few years has meant a lot to me.”
What has Nigel Adkins said about the extensions?
Upon the news of the attacking duo extending their stay to be a part of Adkins’ project for next season, the former Southampton manager said:
“We’re looking to build a team, we’re looking to develop the individual. Kieron’s done ever so well this season, the amount of goals he’s scored, a very intelligent football player. He’s been here for several seasons now and he’s cemented that position on the left-hand side.
“Likewise, Josh Hawkes is a very talented player. Because of the form of Kieron Morris, he’s been making it a bit more challenging for Josh to get as many games, but he keeps working hard on the training ground and we can see the ability he’s got.
“I think both players can be instrumental in where we’re looking to go.”
How important have Hawkes and Morris been for Tranmere this season?
Both Kieron Morris and Josh Hawkes are influential attacking wingers for Nigel Adkins’ side and this can certainly be seen as a smart bit of business from Tranmere.
Over his six-year stay on Merseyside, Morris has made 224 appearances for the club and has scored 31 goals. This season, Morris has continued to show how significant he is for Rovers by scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 37 appearances, making him Tranmere’s third most influential player in terms of goal involvement’s this season.
For Josh Hawkes however, this season has been a frustrating one. The former Sunderland winger, with 23 goals in 119 appearances for Rovers, has only made 30 appearances this season and has struggled for minutes, playing only 1151, over 1000 less than Morris who has played 2510 this season, and considerably less than last season where he played over 3000 in total.
Hawkes’ lack of game time could be put down to the irreplaceable quality of Blackpool loanee Rob Apter as well as the high-quality performances of Kieron Morris, as alluded to by Tranmere boss Adkins.
Despite not playing as much as usual, Hawkes has maintained a high performance level this season, scoring six goals, and is statistically still one of Tranmere’s most influential attacking players.
He currently leads the way for Tranmere in terms of goals per 90 with 0.47 and has the third-highest expected goals (xG) in the squad with 4.6. Hawkes has also statistically been Rovers’ second most effective dribbler this season averaging 1.3 successful dribbles per 90, only second to Rob Apter.
A sensible decision from Tranmere?
Overall, these contract extensions are a positive step in building a squad for next season that can challenge for the play-offs. With Morris, Tranmere have a player who has promotion-winning experience from the level, being a part of the club’s 2019 Sky Bet League Two play-off winning side and has been one of the most consistent performers over his six-year spell at Prenton Park.
Hawkes on the other hand has shown that he has the potential to play at a higher level, previously attracting interest from clubs in higher divisions, and has impressed this season despite limited chances.
It is reasonable to conclude that Tranmere could be prioritising wide players in the summer transfer window due to the departure of star player Rob Apter, who will be returning to his parent club Blackpool, leaving a significant void in Tranmere’s attack.
The retention of Morris and Hawkes provides Nigel Adkins with a strong foundation that can be built upon for next season. Addressing the gap left by Apter’s departure will be crucial for Tranmere’s aspirations and while Morris and Hawkes do offer an abundance of quality, they alone may not be enough to fill the void left by Apter’s departure.
Therefore, the upcoming transfer window presents an opportunity for Tranmere to bolster their squad, and add to the quality that Hawkes and Morris already bring, which could help them challenge for a first top-seven finish since 2021.