Ryan makes his Royals bow at Kettering

Published 17 Jul 2009 17:40 0 Comments

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CHELSEA’S England under 21 left back Ryan Bertrand makes his Royals debut at Kettering tomorrow at the start of a one-season loan deal.

As revealed exclusively in The Chronicle this week the clubs had agreed a deal and Chelsea gave the 19-year-old permission to get into pre-season action tomorrow even though the paperwork will not be completed until next week.

Bertrand trained with his new teammates this morning and will wear the number 24 shirt.

The Southwark-born defender is new manager Brendan Rodgers’ first signing but they are no strangers because they worked together when the Royals boss was in charge of the youth set-up at Stamford Bridge.

Rodgers said: “He’s a big talent and the great thing is that he wanted to come here. He wanted to meet up with myself, knowing how I work, but more importantly he wanted to meet up with the club. He was dying to come.”

Bertrand said: “As a young English left back, to get out and play is one thing, but to come and do it here at a club which will be up there pushing for promotion to the Premiership was a no-brainer. With Brendan being here it’s an added bonus.”

The teenager has already made 99 senior appearances, during loan spells with Norwich City, AFC Bournemouth and Oldham since joining Chelsea from Gillingham in 2005.

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