Owen Goodman returns to Crystal Palace as Huddersfield Town loan terminated
The young goalkeeper heads back to the Premier League club after finding himself behind Lee Nicholls in the pecking order
Owen Goodman has returned to Crystal Palace after his loan at Huddersfield Town was terminated by mutual agreement with immediate effect.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper arrived in what was intended to be season-long move in the summer after a standout season with Wimbledon in League Two.
Goodman started the season as Lee Grant’s first-choice stopper in League One action and kept four clean sheets in his first five outings for the club.
However, the Eagles loanee was sent off away to Barnsley having already committed an error that led to the opening goal, and subsequently spent a spell out of the side as Lee Nicholls kept his place.
Goodman was restored to the starting line-up five a five-game spell in November, but further errors meant he has not played since the 3-3 draw away to Wimbledon on 29th November.
Grant had acknowledged at his Wednesday morning press conference: “I think it’s tough for Owen, because I love him and brought him in because our feeling is that he’s going to have a tremendous career and hope, of course, as well, that he’ll be incredibly important for what we’re trying to do this year now.”
The Town manager added in a club statement announcing Goodman’s return to Palace: “Owen is a talented young player who’s been a pleasure to work with and have within our group since the summer, but it’s become increasingly clear that ending his time here with us on loan is in the best interest of all concerned.
“Training well and developing within our programme in the face of some challenging moments, Owen was unlikely to feature as regularly as previously envisioned in the second half of the season. Having a loan goalkeeper spend the majority of their time here as a substitute wouldn’t have been helpful for any party involved, with Crystal Palace in agreement.
“Everyone at the club thanks Owen for his efforts here alongside us, and wishes him well in his future career and development.”