Goalkeeper Russell Griffiths headed to Cheltenham Town on half-season loan

Everton’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Russell Griffiths is headed to League Two side Cheltenham Town on a half-season loan that ends at the beginning of January, according to the team website.

The U23 player began last season on loan with Northwich Victoria in the Northern Premier League (seventh tier of English football) before later moving to the National League (fifth tier) and spending time with Halifax Town.

As is to be expected of such a young keeper, he is yet to make his senior team debut, but he was named on the bench as an 18-year-old a few times during the 2014/15 season as Joel Robles’ backup when Tim Howard was struggling with injury.

However, when it comes to the pecking order of goalkeepers at Goodison Park, it appears new boss Ronald Koeman may prefer the Polish-born Mateusz Hewelt over Griffiths. Hewelt traveled with the first team to Dresden and was also named to the bench for the Wayne Rooney testimonial ahead of Griffiths.

Cheltenham Town’s season begins on Saturday against Leyton Orient and Griffiths will be eligible to participate.