Bristol City defender James Taylor is hoping he can learn from former Robins favourite Wade Elliott after completing a season-long loan to League One Cheltenham Town.
Taylor becomes Cheltenham’s eighth signing of the summer and is available for their squad to face Northampton Town in their final pre-season friendly before the EFL kick off next weekend.
The versatile 20-year-old, who can play as both right and left-back and on the side of a back three, continues a familiar loan path from Ashton Gate to Whaddon Road, following in the footsteps of Taylor Moore, Joe Morrell and Cam Pring.
He also will be playing under Elliott after he was named Michael Duff’s successor earlier this summer and enjoyed such a memorable and successful time at City during the 2014/15 promotion season under Steve Cotterill.
“I'm very excited, I can't wait to get lots of opportunities here. I can learn lots from the staff and players here," said Taylor. "It's so important to learn as much as you can from these loan experiences.
“The gaffer has a wealth of experience, but the players as well-Ryan [Jackson] has joined recently and he has over 400 appearances so I'll learn a lot from him too."
A fixture in the Under-23 set-up for the last couple of seasons, Taylor started two games this summer for the senior team, lining up at left wing-back against Portsmouth and Exeter City and impressing particularly in the first fixture. His only prior senior experience has been in the National League South while on loan at Bath City.
He is the third player City have loaned out so far this summer with Owura Edwards joining Ross County in the Scottish Premiership and Taylor Moore signing for Shrewsbury Town, also in League One.
The expectation is more will follow that trio with academy products Ryley Towler - who Cheltenham are also interested in - Duncan Idehen, Josh Owers, Sam Bell and potentially Tommy Conway, although he increasingly seems part of the first-team, likely to be on the move before the September 1 deadline.
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