Bristol Rovers have confirmed that goalkeeper Jed Ward has been recalled from his season-long loan spell at Forest Green Rovers following Josh Griffiths’ return to parent club West Bromwich Albion.
The Gas were alerted of West Brom’s triggering of their recall option on Monday morning with the Baggies poised to lose first-choice Alex Palmer to Premier League side Ipswich Town.
In response, particularly given how late in the window the news came, Rovers opted to bring their academy graduate back to BS7 for the remainder of the League One campaign.
Although it will prove to be a major setback for Forest Green who are pushing for promotion from the National League, it eases the blow of the Gas losing their first-choice shot stopper who had been leading the saves tally in the third tier with 110.
Ward was very much thrown into the deep end around this time last year, getting an opportunity in the first-team and excelling. The then-20-year-old went on to make 18 league appearances for Rovers in the second half of the campaign having been recalled from a loan spell at Wealdstone earlier in the season.
That saw the young goalkeeper earn the accolade of Young Player of the Season alongside signing a brand new four-year contract as well as being handed an England Under-20s debut.
This term, Ward has played in every single National League match for Forest Green, keeping 10 clean sheets in 28 appearances and conceding 22 goals.
It is expected that the 21-year-old will finish the season as first-choice back at Rovers with fellow 21-year-old Matt Hall still at the club to provide back up.