Bristol City move for Fulham defender

Fulham defender Matthew Briggs looks set to join Bristol City on loan according to West London Sport.

Briggs made a promising start to the season with eight appearances in the Whites Europa League campaign in which he netted his only goal for the club. The 20 year old has had limited opportunities to force himself into Martin Jol’s plans and has not featured in the Premier League since November.

A number of Championship clubs are interested in taking the England Under 21 international on loan after learning of his availability but City are leading the race to sign the promising defender on loan for the remainder of the season and should be on board in time to face Doncaster on Saturday.

The academy graduate made history in 2007 by becoming the youngest Premier League player in history when he made his senior debut at the tender age of 16 years and 65 days against Middlesbrough.

Primarily a left-back, Briggs boasts desirable attributes at both ends of the pitch and his versatility would give Robins boss Derek McInnes further options in the centre of defence or midfield . Briggs is pacey, extremely comfortable on the ball, has a good range of passing, and his athleticism means he can get up and down the pitch.

His effortless glide even moved one member of the Fulham Academy to describe him as a “Rolls-Royce player” – in many ways he is the modern day defender.

Briggs is still highly regarded at Craven Cottage and had a run in the side at left-back last season when Carlos Salcido was out injured. Fulham, however are keen to loan out the player to further his development and will hope his qualities will benefit him in the same way that Steven Caulker did when a similar loan spell catipulted him into Harry Redknapp’s long term plans and further loan spell with Swansea.

Derek McInnes’ Robins are struggling towards the bottom of the Championship and have already strengthened their squad this month by signing Steven Pearson and Richard Foster from Derby County and Aberdeen respectively.

Posted by MarkG on January 16, 2012. Filed under Bristol City, FA Barclays Premiership, Fulham, NPower Championship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.