Frank Lampard has revealed that it was “evident” from the first few days of watching rookie Coventry City goalkeeper Luke Bell just how good he is in one standout aspect of his trade.
The 20-year-old Sky Blues goalkeeper was recalled by the head coach from his impressive loan spell at non-league Gloucester City last month following the long-term injury to first choice Oliver Dovin. At a time when fellow development goalie Cian Tyler is injured, Lampard wanted three keepers at Ryton, with Bell joining first team training with Brad Collins and Ben Wilson.
Bell made a real impression with Gloucester, whose manager Mike Cook – himself a former youth team player with Coventry from the mid-late 1980s – said he was the “best reaction shot stopper” he had ever seen.
Asked about Bell, Lampard told CoventryLive: “He’s a great young lad, really dedicated and easy to manage and handle. And he’s a really good shot stopper, I agree, because I have watched him training with us since I have been here and it was evident from the first few days just how good a shot stopper he is as a young keeper.
“So the next step of his progression was to go out on loan and then all the reports I have had back over the last six weeks or so is how Belly make these saves, those saves, was great in this game etc.
“So it’s really good news for him that he’s had that experience and now has the opportunity to come back and be part of that final part of the season when we are pushing and there are different stresses and intensities around every game. And the fact that he’s more involved, potentially, with us is a great thing.”
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