Campbell could go as Bywater nears return
BURTON Albion are looking to send goalkeeper Harry Campbell out on loan as Stephen Bywater nears a return to fitness.
Bywater, who made 44 appearances for the Brewers in the Championship last season, has not featured since suffering a shoulder injury in August’s Carabao Cup win over Aston Villa, with Chelsea loanee Bradley Collins and ex-Nottingham Forest man Dimitar Evtimov both arriving since that game.
Nigel Clough confirmed that Bywater was set to start Wednesday’s Checkatrade Trophy game at home to Middlesbrough’s under-21s before pulling out with a calf problem, meaning another appearance for Evtimov.
His second short-term deal at the Pirelli Stadium expires on November 15 - and Clough acknowledges that Evtimov’s future with the Brewers will depend on Bywater’s situation, while they also search for a loan destination for Campbell.
“Yes, we’ll view it,” said the Brewers manager.
“The plan is still for Harry to try to get out on loan, if we can, to a National League, or National League North/South side, wherever.
“We’ll be sending out another circular this week, reminding clubs that he’s available if anybody needs a goalie.
“Then we’ll see how Stephen is. “Stephen was down to play on Wednesday and he just felt his calf on Tuesday in the warm-up, so there was no point in risking him.
“It will depend, what we do with Dimi, how Stephen is.”
Evtimov’s form for Albion, since joining in September to cover for the injured Bywater and Collins, has earned him a first senior international call-up for Bulgaria.
Clough sees it as “a lovely reward” for his impact at the Pirelli - and he says it makes him more surprised that Burton were able to sign him as a free agent.
“Everybody is absolutely delighted for him,” added Clough of Evtimov’s call-up.
“They were doing their warm-ups altogether and the goalies come over separately and we said, ‘just the international goalies’ - and he said, ‘it’s just me, then!’
“I think it’s a lovely reward for him, for what he’s done.
“We are very surprised, having seen him, that he hasn’t got a club.
“There must be some good goalkeepers and some good number twos in the EFL, because he is an international, he has experience and we can’t believe he hasn’t got a club.
“If nothing else, I hope that playing with us will lead him to getting a deal somewhere, certainly to get back into the international fold will help him.
“Seeing him on television against Nottingham Forest last week, a few people might be aware of him.
“Honestly, we’re delighted him.
“The only thing is it makes it frustrating for us because we are already losing Liam Boyce, so if we had one more (the Brewers would be able to reschedule their League One game against Coventry City on November 17).
“So we are trying to find somebody who can get an international call-up somewhere in the next 10 days.
“Apparently Lucas Akins qualifies for Grenada, so we are working on that one at the moment!” for