Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has full faith in his goalkeeping department despite the departure of Nikita Haikin over the international break leaving him with one senior player in the form of No1 Max O’Leary.
Haikin has re-signed with Bodo/Glimt in Norway, the team he left in January to move to the Robins on a short-term deal until the summer. With just eight games of the Championship season remaining there seems little point in looking to the free agent market to secure another more experienced goalkeeper - although Pearson admits it is still an option - so Harvey Wiles-Richards will be promoted to the position of No2 below O’Leary.
Within three days of Haikin’s exit, Wiles-Richards signed a one-year contract extension in BS3 and while he’s been a regular starter for the Under-21s, has also been part of the first-team squad on matchdays, home and away, travelling and training with the group.
That experience over the last two years means Pearson is confident the 20-year-old won’t be fazed by his sudden promotion as he’ll join fellow Bath-born goalkeeper O’Leary in the matchday 18 against Reading on Saturday.
It'll be the first time Wiles-Richards has been on the bench as an active participant since he served seven matches as back-up to Bentley and O'Leary midway through last season, without getting on the pitch.
“I watch Harv every day and I’ve seen him over quite a long period of time and he’s somebody who I think will do fine,” Pearson said. “And if something happens to one of our keepers there’s an opportunity to do an emergency (transfer), I suppose, but we have some youngsters coming through as well, so I’m not worried.”
Haikin’s signing was, in effect, a security measure following the sale of Dan Bentley to Wolves towards the end of the January window, allowing the Robins to make a saving on the last six months of their former captain’s contract.
Haikin was named in 12 City squads, in the Championship and FA Cup, without getting any game time and although he didn’t produce anything tangible in terms of performances, during his brief stay, fulfilled the required task.
“He’s been offered a three-year deal so good luck to him,” Pearson added. “Him coming here was beneficial for both parties… all three parties as it turns out because he joins his new club having had a positive experience.
"I don't think it was a particularly difficult decision for him because he gets a three-year contract and we were pleased at the time to be able to have some experience on the bench having lost Dan to Wolves. It’s fine.”
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