Josh Gracey’s performances have won many plaudits in Shropshire
Kevin Wilkin has admitted Telford may struggle to bring young goalkeeper Josh Gracey back to the club on loan next season.
Josh Gracey of AFC Telford United kicks a smoke flare thrown on to the pitch awayplaceholder image
Josh Gracey of AFC Telford United kicks a smoke flare thrown on to the pitch away | © SalopPhoto
The 18-year-old Northern Irish youth international was a standout performer for The Bucks in the National League North this year, and has now returned to his parent club Wolves where he will be training with the first team until the end of the Premier League campaign.
And when asked whether there was a chance of Gracey returning to the SEAH Stadium Wilkin insisted the matter was out of his hands, but admitted he would jump at the chance to welcome him back into the fold next season.
“We need to understand that Wolves will take him back and assess their position and situation,” he said. “They’ll want to give Josh whatever they feel is the right move is for him at this stage in his career and we have to respect that.
“I have little doubt that he can play over and above the level we’re at at the moment, but we’ll have to see how things unfold and whether they want him to play another season at this level or not.
“That’s all down to Wolves, we’re just really grateful that they’ve loaned him to us and the whole arrangement has benefitted every party.”
The Bucks this week confirmed long-serving keeper Brandon Hall has re-signed for a fourth season.
Wilkin admitted that the performances of Gracey were to thank for a number of the points Telford picked up this term, something he believes makes the keeper as valuable to the side as top goal scorer Matty Stenson.
“It really does emphasise how important it is to have some consistency in the goalkeeping position,” he said. “If you’ve got a striker that is getting you 20 or 25 goals that’s great, and equally if you’ve got goalkeeper that’s stopping 20 or 25 goals it’s crucial to what you’re trying to do.
“It’s a very important position, and with Brandon and Josh we’ve had two excellent goalkeepers to pick from.”
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