Football City boss Struber backing Vitek to be ‘Premier League goalkeeper in the future’

BRISTOL City can help Radek Vitek “make the next big step in his career” Gerhard Struber has insisted, with the Robins’ head coach adamant the young goalkeeper needs regular first-team football amid fan concerns he could be recalled by Manchester United in January.

- Dan CARTER daniel.carter@reachplacom

Vitek has started each of the Robins’ first four Championship matches under Struber, including the 4-2 win over Hull City last time out. While an Emil Riis brace, as well as goals from Anis Mehmeti and Max Bird, ensured it was the attacking players who stole the show, the United loanee made several important saves.

The pick of the 21-year-old’s interventions came early in the second half when he reacted quickly to claw an Oli McBurnie header off of the goalline and to safety from close range. Vitek also did well to keep out efforts from Kyle Joseph, Cody Drameh, and Mohamed Belloumi to ensure City secured all three points.

Although supporters were impressed by what they saw from the Czech stopper on his competitive debut against Sheffield United, he has seemingly only improved over the first month of the campaign, something which hasn’t surprised his head coach.

“Twould say he is, in his personal decision-making moments, really good,” Struber said in his post-match press conference following the win over Hull. “Of course, how he catches balls and how he makes saves in difficult moments, he was again really reliable, but also in the on-ball moments, you can see from him not cheap things.