Bristol Rovers seal last-gasp deal for ex-Reading starlet as Gas respond to transfer hammer blow

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Bristol Rovers have made a last-gasp goalkeeper move following the loss of Josh Griffiths.

Bristol Rovers have announced the eleventh-hour arrival of goalkeeper Myles Roberts on loan from Championship side Watford as the Gas respond to the blow they were dealt earlier on deadline day by the unexpected departure of first-choice stopper Josh Griffiths.

Griffiths, who had been on loan at the Memorial Stadium from West Brom, was recalled by his parent club after Premier League side Ipswich Town made a surprise swoop for their own preferred glovesman, Alex Palmer, who left the Baggies before the end of the winter transfer window in a deal believed to be worth up to £5m.

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Roberts’ arrival will give manager Inigo Calderon options as the Gas have also announced the return of fan favourite Jed Ward from his loan spell at Forest Green Rovers. The 21-year-old, who made 18 league appearances last season and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year, will also have the chance to take the number one jersey following Griffiths’ premature departure.

Who is new Rovers signing Myles Roberts?

23-year-old goalkeeper Roberts was a product of Reading’s youth academy but left to join Watford in 2020 without playing a game for the Royals.

Since signing for the Hornets, Roberts has spent much of his time out on loan, and after a string of spells in non-league he spent the first half of this season at Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle, keeping eight clean sheets in just 19 league matches.

Those performances will encourage Calderon to hope that he has signed a worthy replacement for Griffiths, who impressed after signing on loan from the Baggies in the summer, while Ward’s previous showings when called upon mean that the Spaniard should have the benefit of healthy competition for minutes between the sticks.

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Bristol Rovers’ back-up prior to the arrival of Roberts and the return of Ward, 21-year-old, Matthew Hall, may also be in the reckoning as Calderon looks to build on Saturday’s impressive 3-1 win over fellow relegation candidates Peterborough United.

Roberts becomes third deadline day signing

Goalkeeper Roberts has become the third loan signing announced by Bristol Rovers on the final day of the January transfer window, joining 21-year-old Aston Villa centre-back Sil Swinkels and 19-year-old Cardiff City forward Michael Reindorf in moving to the Memorial Stadium on a temporary basis before the deadline.

The Gas have also avoided losing key players outside of Griffiths, with a reported transfer bid for veteran right-back Jack Hunt from Shrewsbury Town rebuffed on Monday while rumours suggesting that experienced forward Jevani Brown could leave currently appear to have been wide of the mark. Manager Calderon will now hope that his new reinforcements are sufficient to help him steer the club away from danger - following the win over Peterborough, Bristol Rovers now have a six-point buffer over the League One relegation zone - but the performances of their young goalkeepers could have a hugely influential role to play in the run-in.

Rovers also added the signings of midfielder Romaine Sawyers on a free transfer and the loan capture of Wycombe Wanderers’ Matt Butcher earlier in the transfer window.

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