Josh Griffiths Expresses Intent to Compete for West Brom Spot After Loan

West Bromwich Albion’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, Josh Griffiths, currently on a season-long loan with Bristol Rovers, has indicated that the time is approaching for him to “fight for his position” at the Championship club. This marks his fourth temporary move away from the Baggies in the past four seasons, having previously played for Cheltenham Town, Lincoln City, and Portsmouth. During his current spell, Griffiths has participated in every minute of Bristol Rovers’ 15 League One matches this season, achieving five clean sheets. Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Griffiths articulated his personal ambition: “I think at some point I’ve got to stamp my feet down and say I want to fight for my position. But that’s a conversation I need to have with myself.” He further clarified his ultimate objective, stating, “That is ultimately my end goal, I want to be West Brom’s number one so that’s probably a decision I need to make.” Having been part of West Brom since the age of 10, Griffiths has accumulated 13 appearances for the club, though his opportunities in the 2023-24 season were restricted to just three cup games, playing behind first-choice keeper Alex Palmer. He commented that gaining consistent playing time through loan spells early in his career has been beneficial for his growth both on and off the field. Griffiths further elaborated on the advantages of his loan experiences, stating, “It’s been brilliant for me to play a decent amount of games before 23. I’d like to think I’ve got a decent bit of experience playing in the three leagues.” He also noted the broader benefits: “Coming to different teams helps, different styles, meeting different people, it’s good for your people skills getting to know everyone.” Despite Griffiths’ season-long loan agreement, Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor indicated that his presence at the club beyond the January transfer window is not guaranteed. Taylor commented, “The expectation is that he’s here for the season but with so many games in the next six weeks so much can change.” He added, “For us, his parent club, elsewhere, you just don’t know. Right now everyone seems happy with the current partnership and relationship.” Taylor further mentioned that although Griffiths experienced a “little blip” during the 4-0 and 3-2 defeats against Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United in September, he has otherwise proven to be a valuable asset to the club. Taylor elaborated on Griffiths’ performance, stating, “For the first time in the game hit him a bit but before that and since then he’s been excellent.” He continued, “He’s made countless amount of saves. We still want more from him in certain areas of his game, he’s still a young goalkeeper learning and development but I think he’s been a good addition to this football club.”