On-loan Hungerford Town goalkeeper Jed Ward is on the verge of challenging the established pecking order at EFL League One Bristol Rovers according to Gas boss Joey Barton.
Ward, impressive this season for Hungerford as the West Berkshire side battle against relegation from the Vanarama National League South, has been on loan and battled it out with experienced fellow stoppers Mark Scott and Simon Grant for the number one shirt.
Speaking to Bristol Live, Barton said while discussing the depth in Rovers goalkeeping department: “The next goalkeeper then is young Jed Ward, who has gone out on loan and done superbly, but he’s probably 12-18 months away from challenging Belly for the shirt. Jed might have something to say about that in pre-season, but that is how we see it and we felt we needed to create that competition right across the squad.”
On Saturday, Ward is likely to start the Crusaders crucial away tie at Worthing.
