Josh Griffiths believes his loan move to Bristol Rovers earlier this season was a vital chapter in his development, as the West Brom goalkeeper looks to finally stake his claim as the club’s long-term number one.
The 23-year-old has been on four different loan spells away from The Hawthorns, but it was his recent stint at the Memorial Stadium that he says gave him the maturity and belief to return ready for the Championship spotlight.
After being recalled in January following Alex Palmer’s departure to Ipswich Town, many expected Griffiths to slot straight into Tony Mowbray’s starting XI. Instead, Joe Wildsmith was preferred — until a string of errors, including one in a loss to Sunderland, opened the door for Griffiths’ return.
‘I needed that loan’ – Griffiths on growth
The England U21 international was candid about the importance of the loan, highlighting how it helped him discover his identity as a keeper and grow in confidence.
“I needed that loan, in truth. I had to go and play, not to quite go from a boy to a man, but to add maturity to my game and gain that self belief. The loan did me the world of good, playing for Rovers and I really felt like I found my playing personality during my time there.”
Griffiths, who previously spent time at Cheltenham, Lincoln and Portsmouth, now hopes to capitalise on the chance he has been given, having started against Bristol City last week.
“I know there’s so much I need to work on but that excites me. I don’t believe I’m the finished article, but I feel I’m in a much better position because of going on loan.”
Despite his clear ambition, the young stopper reserved special praise for teammate Wildsmith, whose professionalism and support have made the internal competition healthy rather than hostile.
“Joe and myself get along really well, as a lot of goalkeepers unions do. He knew how I felt when he got the Sheffield Wednesday nod, and vice-versa… I can’t speak highly enough of Joe for how he’s helped me.”
Writer’s view
Josh Griffiths is at a pivotal point in his West Brom career. His time at Bristol Rovers clearly gave him the game time and character-building he needed, and now, with the gloves back in his hands, he has a golden opportunity to prove he’s the club’s long-term future. With Palmer gone and Wildsmith under pressure, this feels like Griffiths’ moment to grab.
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