Swindon Town have signed Matej Kovar on a season-long loan from Manchester United.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper will have the opportunity to play senior football for the 2020/21 season.
Swindon Town Sign Matej Kovar on Loan
The Right Club
It has been well-reported that the promising Manchester United goalkeeper was heading out on loan this summer.
The club were keen to send him out on loan to a club that likes to play football, so Matej’s ball-playing qualities can be tested at the senior level.
Swindon Town have been identified as the right club for Kovar.
“Football is always for the fans.” 😍#STFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/7dc1jm49lK
— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) August 28, 2020
EFL Trophy Experience
The Czech Republic U20 international goalkeeper has experienced encounters against Football League clubs during his time with United.
He played all four of Manchester United’s games in the EFL Trophy last season. United’s U21s clashed with the likes of Rotherham United, Lincoln City, and Doncaster Rovers in the group stage, before being eliminated by Tranmere Rovers.
United’s youngsters performed credibly in the competition, as did Kovar. The promising keeper conceded four goals in the four games, keeping two clean sheets. Three of the goals were shipped in their final game against Tranmere.
He kept 11 clean sheets in 33 games for United’s U23 side.
Kovar is the third Manchester United player to leave on loan this summer. Tahith Chong, who scored two in that defeat to Tranmere, has joined Werder Bremen and Aliou Traore has moved back to France with SM Caen.
Kovar is yet to make his debut for Manchester United. He will hope to follow a similar path to Dean Henderson, who despite having time out on loan lower down the ladder beforehand, had a spell in League One with Shrewsbury Town.
Henderson has just put pen-to-paper on a five-year deal with the club and looks set to challenge David De Gea for the number one shirt.
Kovar has occasionally been in and around the first-team training sessions and travelling squads.
Coming to a Footballing Side
“First of all, I’d like to say thank you to everyone for the nice welcome,” Kovar told Swindon Town’s club website. “Even on the training ground. Everyone has been brilliant with me since I came.
“It was the right time to come here and get some experience in men’s football. I’m really happy the club came to me and gave me this opportunity.
“The gaffer spoke to me in a pre-season game at Manchester United’s training ground and he’s a really positive guy, said he wants to play football and that’s what I’m really looking for.”
Swindon Town are managed by former Manchester United academy graduate Richie Wellens. Richie still has some link to United, with his son, Charlie, currently in the setup.
The Robins won League Two last season and Kovar will help them in their return to League One.
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