There has been plenty of talk about goalkeeper for the here and now in BS7, but Joey Barton is excited about the long term for Bristol Rovers with highly-rated prospect Jed Ward performing well out on loan.
The 19-year-old has starred for Hungerford Town this season alongside fellow Rovers talent Ryan Jones, with Ward's displays between the sticks playing a big part in the Crusaders' recent revival in the National League South relegation battle, impressing the watchful eye of Rovers' head of goalkeeping David Coles.
Ward made his first-team debut for the Gas on the final day of the 2020/21 relegation campaign and he appeared in the EFL Trophy last season. This year, though, has largely been spent out on loan, keeping five clean sheets in 16 appearances – with 19 goals conceded a very respectable total for a team sitting bottom of the league.
It may be some time before the academy graduate from Bradley Stoke is deemed ready for contention with his parent club, although he still trains regularly with the first-team at The Quarters and Gas manager Barton is tipping him for an exciting future, believing he could be a future number one.
"He’s a top young keeper," Barton said. "I wouldn’t have given him his debut two years ago against Blackpool unless I thought he had enormous potential.
"The problem for us is because we don’t have an age category (a development squad) in between, we’ve got to get these young lads out. Jerry (Lawrence) has just come back off a loan, Ryan Jones, Harvey Greenslade, we’ve got to get them out playing because you don’t develop unless you’re playing.
"Part of us getting another goalkeeper in was to guarantee Jed going out on loan and getting the minutes he needs to grow into his potential.
"He’s someone I see as a possibility for our number one going forward. How soon that is will depend on his development, but I am also mindful of the way he plays the position and the way I want it played. The more time he spends with us, the closer and closer he becomes to being the ideal keeper for the way my teams play.
"I’m really pleased with his development. I speak to Colesy. He goes and watches him and we have a good chinwag on his development. I speak to Jed – he trains with us quite a lot – and I’m pleased with it.
"Hopefully, pre-season is an opportunity for him to show what he’s about and we’ll take it from there, but I think he has got enormous potential and he’s certainly one for the future."
Ward is currently Rovers fourth-choice goalkeeper with Ellery Balcombe the man in possession and former number-one James Belshaw pushing to regain his place in the team. Player-goalkeeping coach Anssi Jaakkola is third in the pecking order, but he has indicated he could retire at the end of the campaign.
And with Balcombe's loan due to end and Belshaw's future at the club uncertain, Ward should have a chance to audition in the summer.
Ultimately, it is a longshot for a soon-to-be-20-year-old to win a starting goalkeeper role in the EFL and the Gas will likely look to loan Ward out again, ideally at a higher level, but the teenager – who has trained in the England youth setup – is certainly highly regarded by the people that matter at the Mem.
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
READ NEXT:
