Official: Bradley Collins joins Burton Albion on short-term loan

Academy graduate goalkeeper Bradley Collins, who spent last season on loan at Forest Green Rovers in League Two, will make the step up to League One with a loan move to Burton Albion until January.

After enjoying plenty of success at academy level, Collins enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with Forest Green Rovers in League Two. It was his first season in senior football and no doubt, a huge learning curve. Joining Burton on short notice after first-choice goalkeeper, Stephen Bywater suffered an injury in their Carabao Cup fixture against Aston Villa, Collins will be thrown into the deep end and start on Saturday, according to manager Nigel Clough.

“We are still awaiting scan results for Stephen but at the moment we are thinking anywhere between four and eight weeks, so we have chosen a good young Chelsea keeper who had good experience out on loan last year with Forest Green.

“I spoke to Mark Cooper (Forest Green manager) about him and he recommended him and said he really grew up in his time there last season. By the end of the loan spell he had become more of a man by playing in League Two and he will start on Saturday.

“It’s very bad luck for Stephen. Our injuries have been quite incredible at this early stage in the season. Stephen’s was just freakish coming out for one and being caught on the shoulder. It’s very unfortunate for a goalie to be injured like that.

“Harry Campbell did well coming on against Villa. We don’t quite think he’s ready, but we will choose between him and Brad.”

- Nigel Clough; source: Burton Albion

Let’s hope Collins makes the best of this loan spell and is in the Championship (or a higher league) before long. Good luck, Brad!