Chelsea goalkeeper Nathan Baxter’s loan to Ross County in ‘serious doubt’ due to injury

Nathan Baxter may be just one of the many talented young goalkeepers coming through on the Chelsea Academy conveyor belt, but he’s stood out from most by not only joining the Loan Army at a very early age, but choosing destinations out of the usual norm.

Those have included multiple non-league teams, which exposed him to pressures, challenges, and experiences he could never face in the youth academy. His teams may not have all been successful or good, even — again, unique experiences he couldn’t get in the academy — but he amassed over 100 professional appearances as a teenager, making him unique in English football.

The next step in that well laid plan was a loan move to Scottish Premier League newcomers Ross County, to help replace their previous first-choice goalkeeper who had failed to agree a new contract.

Unfortunately it appears that a shoulder injury has put those plans in “serious doubt”, with the 20-year-old returning to Chelsea for treatment (as is standard in such cases). While that doesn’t mean the loan will necessarily be canceled, but if the injury is proven to be major enough, it just might be — unless County can make do without one of their top two goalkeepers, which isn’t too likely. A final decision has not been made yet, according County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell reveals.

“Nathan sustained an injury and we just have to pick up the pieces of that one over the next couple of days. Given the severity of the injury, it looks as if it could keep him out for a period of time.

“It would be silly to say right now it will go one way or another. We need to make sure, first and foremost, the player is taken care of, which he will be through Chelsea. And we obviously need to see what’s best for us, to make sure that area of the pitch is as strong as it can be.”

-Stuart Kettlewell; source: The Scottish Sun

Hopefully the shoulder injury doesn’t derail Baxter’s long-term plans, which still include Chelsea at the end.

Get well soon!