League Two promotion challengers sign Preston North End man ahead of Bromley clash
The former Barnsley and Luton Town man joined PNE in the summer
Preston North End goalkeeper Jack Walton has joined Cambridge United on an emergency loan deal.
The shot-stopper looks set to start Thursday night’s top of the table clash away to Bromley, with number one Jake Eastwood suspended. Cambridge go into the game occupying third spot in League Two.
For Walton, it represents the chance to get a competitive 90 minutes under his belt. Since joining PNE in the summer, from Luton Town, the goalkeeper has made five appearances - with the last of those coming on January 24.
However, Cambridge boss Neil Harris had no reservations about bringing in a goalkeeper who has made more than 150 first team appearances. Had the U’s not brought Walton through the door, they would’ve been calling on 22-year-old, Ben Hughes.
"Ben came on and was outstanding,” Harris told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. “To ask him to go again in such a pivotal game would have been a real big ask for him and huge gamble. We decided to go down the route of seeing what options were available to us, to bring in more experienced goalkeepers.
"Jack comes with high pedigree and a lot of football played. We know the goalkeeper we are signing. We have some excellent references on him (Walton) and the lad was ever so excited and desperate to come and play. He's got the character and the mindset to do it, so it is a strong starting point.”
Where Walton stands at PNE
The 27-year-old, who played under Heckingbottom at Barnsley previously, signed a contract until 2028 in the summer. He played the Carabao Cup games against Barrow and Wrexham, before getting an opportunity to start three league consecutive games in light of injury to Daniel Iversen.
In the last of those, Preston were beaten 4-0 at Middlesbrough in what proved to be a tough afternoon for Walton. After that game, Dai Cornell was preferred for a run of games and with Iversen now back available, Walton hasn’t made five of the last six match day squads. In early March, Heckingbottom was asked about the shot-stopper’s situation.
“I think too much is made about goalkeepers,” said Heckingbottom. “He got left out because of performance, that was it. Dai was champing at the bit and that's it, the same as any other position on the pitch. But again, you're not thrown out, you're not discarded.
“Your job is to get back in the team, that's it, and that's the mentality we want to create. Listen, if you accept not being in the team and you're comfortable, you're probably not for us here, because we can't carry anyone. But certainly, you will still get the work, still get the opportunity, still get pushed every day and then it's over to the players.”