It is becoming more and more common for players to make the switch to a local rival in the quest for more first team football and this is no different for three of Bristol City’s younger squad members, who all made the short trip to Cheltenham Town at the start of the 2017-2018 season.
Taylor Moore, Freddie Hinds and Joe Morrell have all tasted senior football for Cheltenham and whilst Moore and Morrell have had their loans extended until the end of the season, for Freddie Hinds the return to a flourishing Bristol City side will probably mean having to drop back into a reserve team set-up.
Since arriving at Whaddon Road, Morrell has made 24 appearances, cementing his place in the starting line-up and creating a successful partnership with Harry Pell whilst Taylor Moore has made the same amount of appearances and has become a regular starter for Gary Johnsons side. Hinds made 14 appearances before heading back to Bristol City but will struggle to find a place in the high-flying Championship sides first team.
The ties between Cheltenham and Bristol City have been made easier by the managers being father and son and this relationship will surely see more crossovers between the two clubs in the future. Whilst it wasn’t as successful for Hinds, he is the youngest of the three players at 18 and the experience of being in and around the starting eleven will be invaluable for his development and don’t be surprised if more teams enquire about his signature for the reminder of the season.
For Morrell and Moore, it will be more of the same as they go into this weekends game knowing each match is vital to Cheltenham staying in League 1, whilst also keeping one eye on the potential of Bristol City’s promotion push.
For all three of the loanees, it has no doubt been an educational experience and one which Bristol City will benefit from in the long term but come the end of the season, Cheltenham might find themselves having to replace two of their most consistent performers.
