Manchester United youngster Radek Vitek is enjoying an impressive season on loan at Bristol City.
New signing Senne Lammens has quietly taken over the role of first choice goalkeeper after displacing Altay Bayindir.
Bayindir is being linked with a return to Turkey, which could accelerate United’s forward-planning when it comes to finding competition for Lammens.
United already have a very talented young goalkeeper in the ranks, FA Youth Cup winning stopper Radek Vitek.
Vitek is currently on loan at Bristol City, where he has been earning rave reviews, and he has just come off an eventful week.
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Radek Vitek of Bristol City in action.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images
Radek Vitek praised after busy week
It’s important to remember that goalkeepers often do not hit their prime until their 30s, as Manchester United once benefited from Edwin van der Sar.
That’s what makes Radek Vitek’s potential so exciting. He is already one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship at the age of 22.
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Data shows Vitek has the third best save percentage in the Championship this season, at 75.3 per cent.
Goalkeeper Club Matches Played Save % (Ranked) Goals Conceded per 90 Min
Arthur Okonkwo Wrexham AFC 14 78.6% 0.93
Viktor Johansson Stoke City 18 78.5% 0.78
Radek Vítek Bristol City 18 75.3% 1.11
Carl Rushworth Coventry City 17 73.8% 1.00
Jakub Stolarczyk Leicester City 14 73.2% 1.00
Vitek’s loan has been a big success, but there was one disappointing moment in midweek when he was credited with an own goal against Wrexham when a corner rebounded in off him.
Moments like this will happen to any goalkeeper, and it is important how a young player like Vitek responds to setbacks.
Vitek showed his character by responding with a clean sheet to help Bristol City to an impressive away victory over Portsmouth at the weekend.
He made two important saves and was an authoritative calming presence for his team throughout the contest.
Speaking after the game, Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber told BBC Sport that Vitek was vital to their win.
“I know it is really difficult how we deal with the atmosphere but it was on a really high level from them and I am really pleased with how we did it.
“To be here in the end you need every single player and we needed Radek.”
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Ruben Amorim in Manchester United attire during loss to Everton.
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Radek Vitek is eyeing promotion to Manchester United’s first team, but there is another type of promotion on the agenda for him too.
Bristol City are placed sixth in the Championship, and have a fair shout to win promotion to the Premier League.
They are just four points behind second place, and while there is a lot of football left to be played before the end of the season, they will feel they are right in the mix in a very competitive division.
If the Robins can win promotion to the Premier League, that may open up a new avenue for Vitek to continue his development on an extended loan deal.