Fan favourite the first time, now Brad is set for second Brewers spell

BRAD Collins was poised to return to Burton Albion for a second time on loan as the Telegraph went to press last night and looks likely to be the Brewers’ first-choice goalkeeper.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Collins will join for the rest of the season from Coventry City and will return as a 28-year-old with plenty of Championship experience.

His first stint with the Brewers was in the 2018-19 season, as the club returned to League One after two seasons in the Championship.

He arrived in September, aged 21, initially on loan from Chelsea until January, and replaced Stephen Bywater as first choice.

It is understood that manager Gary Bowyer and his backroom team were always intending to bring in another, more experienced goalkeeper as soon as they knew they were losing Max Crocombe in the summer.

The signing has just taken a little longer than they had hoped.

The suggestion is that Collins will be the first choice and the club had always kept the number one shirt available when they released the squad numbers at the start of the season.