Bristol City youngster Tommy Backwell has taken part in a training match with Cheltenham Town as the League Two side cast their eye over the midfielder.
As first called by our sister publication Gloucestershire Live, the 21-year-old featured in an 11 vs 11 game on Tuesday morning between Michael Flynn’s side at Bishop Cleeve’s Kayte Lane Ground.
The midfielder penned professional terms with the Robins in the summer of 2022 and agreed a one-year extension with Liam Manning’s side at the end of last season.
Although he is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Reds, Backwell has been named among the substitutes in both the FA Cup and Championship in recent seasons, while remaining a regular fixture of City’s under-21s side.
Manning moved to add some depth in the middle of the park during the summer transfer window and the arrivals of Max Bird, Marcus McGuane and Scott Twine partnered with the good form of Jason Knight has seen Backwell fall down the pecking order.
The majority of the midfielder’s football has come at youth level, but he has also enjoyed loan spells with Hallen and Yate Town. He also spent a short spell on loan with Bath City in the National League South but struggled to make a real impact under Jerry Gill.
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A second trialist was also involved in Cheltenham Town’s training match on Tuesday afternoon, however, it is not yet clear who that player is. Town’s new loan signing Val Adedeokun also took part in the fixture.
The Robins currently sit 13th in the League Two table having been relegated from the third tier last season. Flynn’s side are only nine points adrift of the play-off places and are a comfortable 11 clear of the relegation zone with 24 games played.
Cardiff City loanee Joel Colwill has impressed since arriving at the Completely Suzuki Stadium but Bristol Live understands Bristol Rovers are one of several League One clubs interested in the 20-year-old during the January transfer window.