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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Richard Forrester

'Had to compete and graft' - How Bristol City's loan talents are performing in EFL and beyond

While Nigel Pearson's senior squad are continuing to prove their worth this season, the youngsters who remain on the periphery are quietly going about their business around the country.

As is such with the number of talented youth products in the Robins academy, the necessity to send them out on loan to increase their experience and improve their game remains paramount.

At the beginning of the season, Pearson made comment that a few players may fall victim to City's lack of squad depth as it means they can't afford to be sent out temporarily in case of an injury crisis. That may apply to the likes of Sam Bell and Dylan Kadji who have remained with the youth side this season.

Pearson and Head of Academy Brian Tinnion will have had close conversations on who they believe would benefit from loan spells and experience from playing regular competitive football.

Whether it's dealing with the pressures of playing football where results matter, the rigours of playing every week or getting on top of the physicality of lower league brutes, players are tasked with coming back stronger, better and more street smart.

City have a number of notable youngsters out in the Football League and beyond the border and here's how five of them have been getting on in the early part of the campaign...

Ryley Towler, AFC Wimbledon

The 20-year-old defender made the move to the League Two side on deadline day and has therefore only had the opportunity to make three league appearances, two of those as starts, and one in the Football League Trophy, scoring an unfortunate own goal on his debut.

Wimbledon reporter Edmund Brack, writer for the South London press, said: "He's done really well since he's come down. He's brought natural pace to the back three that Johnnie Jackson likes to deploy. I think League Two is the right step for his development.

"I know it was done late in the window but he's definitely added something to Wimbledon's team. He's played on the left but on Sunday he played in the middle. He's got a good passing range on him.

"He's the most natural ball-playing defender they have I think over the last three games he's established himself that he needs to be one of those three if they're going to play that system.

"There was nothing he could do about his own goal on his debut but I think he looked good. He's built on that performance. He looks more than capable at this level but he's not someone who's going to command the backline.

"He's quite simple in how he goes about things. You're not going to notice him too much throughout the game but that's a good thing for a ball-playing defender. When you've got Alex Pearce and Lee Brown alongside him his natural pace stands out - I think he's been a really good addition to Wimbledon. It's going well so far."

Duncan Idehen, Carlisle

The City defender made his Robins debut towards the end of last season with Pearson eager to give opportunities to youngsters as the club's season fizzled out. Idehen had only made a brief spell at Grimsby in the National League before joining the club and therefore the club were keen to offer him experience in the Football League with League Two side, Carlisle.

Idehen has only seen 19 minutes of league action so far but has started in both of Carlisle's Football League Trophy games, including bundling in a late equaliser in the penalty victory over Fleetwood.

Carlisle reporter for the News and Star Jon Colman said: "Idehen came in predominantly as cover, certainly to start with. I think that's his role from the outset is to challenge and compete with the defenders in the front line.

"(Paul) Simpson speaks highly of him. He thinks he's a player with good potential and attributes. He's done okay in the Papa John's Trophy and scored probably one of the worst goals you'll ever see - bodies were flying everywhere and he got a final touch in a goalline scramble but fair play to him.

"He defended well to be honest. He was one of a few that grew into the game as it went on but I think the case for him is he'll need to remain patient. Carlisle are playing with three centre-backs at the moment and if Idehen was to come in, I think it would be the left-sided one.

"The guy in that position Jon Mellish is playing very well and is one of the most important players. He's rarely injured and is one of the first names on the sheet so I think it's a case that Idehen has to compete and graft behind the scenes. Play in the odd reserve and Para John's Game and being on call and on alert because Carlisle have had a lot of injuries.

"He's certainly around it and in the squad each week so he might not be getting many minutes at the moment but he's certainly part of the reckoning at the moment."

James Taylor, Cheltenham

The young defender joined the League One side in July but has only featured in one match so far, that unfortunately came in a 7-0 drubbing of Exeter City in the EFL Cup back in August. An injury has kept him out of action and Cheltenham Town reporter Jon Palmer for Gloucestershire Live further explains Taylor's situation with the club.

He said: "They've basically come out and said he's a development loan. So he didn't come to Cheltenham expecting to play regular, first-team football. He basically came because Bristol City wanted him to be in a first-team environment.

"He started the cup game against Exeter where they lost 7-0 so that was a tough introduction for him. It wasn't his fault and you can't judge him on that. Exeter put out a strong team and it was a total mismatch.

"He's had an injury recently. He's had a medial knee ligament injury so he'll probably have a chance of being on the bench but he's not close to starting at Cheltenham at the moment. They did it with West Brom last season where they brought in a player to get used to being around a first-team environment."

Taylor Moore, Shrewsbury

The central defender made the switch to Steve Cotterill's side in the summer as he enters the final year of his contract at Bristol City. Following a temporary spell at Hearts last campaign, Moore's career in BS3 is all-but over unless Pearson performs a major U-turn on his stance on the 25-year-old.

Moore has been an important figure for the Shrews having started in eight League One matches. Interestingly, Cotterill previously spoke about his ambitions to turn him into a defensive midfielder and he has stuck to his word.

Speaking to the Shropshire Star, Cotterill said: "Taylor has come here as a central midfield player. Taylor can do two positions for us, that’s vital with our budget, I think Taylor hasn’t quite fulfilled his potential in the Championship at centre-back.

“So somewhere along the line something has to change, I’ve spoken to him numerous times over the summer, we met and discussed this. He started as a central midfield player. It’s not foreign to him that we stuck a centre-back in midfield. I signed him as a central midfield player."

He has played the full 90 minutes in eight of his 10 appearances in all competitions with his side ninth in League One with 11 goals conceded in 10 matches. No matter what happens with Moore's campaign, it's highly unlikely he'll be back in Bristol next season.

Owura Edwards, Ross County

The winger is another player whose future at City looks uncertain beyond this season. The 21-year-old's deal expires next summer and Edwards will be looking to impress during his season with the Scottish Premiership side.

Edwards has been in and out of the first team, making two league starts and a further five substitute appearances. He has scored once and assisted one with his goal coming in a 1-0 victory over Kilmarmock.

He has also featured five times in the League Cup, including a goal of the season contender in a 7-0 win over East Fife to further highlight his ability and potential. Following a loan spell with Colchester last season, Edwards returned to the City Under-23 side to score a screamer in the National semi-final at the end of last campaign.

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