Cambridge United have brought in Preston North End’s goalkeeper Jack Walton on an emergency loan.
Their main keeper, Jake Eastwood, is suspended for Wednesday’s match against League Two leaders Bromley after he was sent off during their 4-0 win over Notts County for handling the ball outside the box.
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Ben Hughes came on to make his league debut as Eastwood’s replacement, having only played four times before in Vertu Trophy matches.
“Jakes being sent off wasn’t ideal for anybody, but in the heat of the moment these things happen, we understand that, especially at this stage of the season when emotions are high and you have to make marginal decisions on the spot,” boss Neil Harris told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
“Ben came on and was outstanding, but to ask him to go again in such a pivotal game would have been a really big ask and a huge gamble, so we decided to go down the route of seeing what options were available to us.”
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Walton, who is 27 years old, has made five appearances for Preston this season since joining them last summer but hasn’t played since January.
He started out at Barnsley and had more than 70 games under his belt during a two-year loan with Dundee United in Scotland.
“We have some excellent references on him and the lad was so excited and desperate to come and play, and he’s got the character and the mindset to do it, which is a strong starting point,” said Harris.
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Cambridge sit third in the table with just four games left as they aim to bounce straight back up to League One after last season’s relegation.
