Yahoo Sport 
Josh Griffiths opens up on his West Brom future as he reaches key juncture
West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths has reasoned that he is reaching a significant period in his career as he continues through what he hopes to be the final loan spell of his time away from The Hawthorns. Griffiths, who turned 23 in September, is spending this year with Bristol Rovers in League One, his fourth loan with an EFL side since 2020.
The keeper has racked up 144 career appearances at the time of writing, ahead of the Gas' trip to Mansfield Town on Saturday, and that has included spells with Cheltenham Town - with whom he won League Two - Lincoln City under Michael Appleton and then at Portsmouth, before he was recalled from the latter by Carlos Corberan.
Griffiths was granted a brief run in the first team because of injury to Alex Palmer and the loss of form of David Button, but Palmer was quickly reinstalled upon his return to fitness. Griffiths, then, has played 10 league games for the Baggies and was a cup regular last season - including in the FA Cup against Wolves.
READ MORE: Carlos Corberan reveals West Brom 'medical advice' and Mason Holgate boost
READ MORE: Carlos Corberan hatches plan to stop Borja Sainz as West Brom told to be wary
He has been a routine selection at the Memorial Stadium this term, playing 18 matches to date and keeping five clean sheets. Griffiths, though, intends for this year to be his last as a loan ranger and he hopes that he is considered closer than ever to Palmer upon his return next summer - potentially leaving Corberan with a real headache.
"There does," Griffiths told BristolLive. "I think that's probably maybe where I'm going to be at after this loan. I think at some point I've got to sort of stamp my feet down and say, 'look, I want to fight for my position', but that's a conversation I need to have with myself. I'm not super young anymore, not old, so ultimately that is my end goal - I want to be West Brom's number one. That's probably a decision I need to make."
That said, Griffiths did push for this loan towards the end of last season, knowing that Palmer was firmly Corberan's first choice between the sticks as Albion pushed for the Premier League via the play-offs. In the short-term, this scenario whereby Griffiths is playing regularly at a good level is a convenient one for all parties.
"I sort of brought the conversation to them end of last season because, as good as it is being at a Championship club, I want to be playing and I knew Alex was doing so well that it was probably more likely looking like a loan spell this year," Griffiths added.
"That conversation happened quite early and then it was just deciding where I wanted to go and which clubs would suit me and vice versa. Bristol Rovers was very attractive and they approached me and presented well and at the end of the day, it was probably quite an easy decision. I've played against Scott [Brown], the goalie coach here, so I had a bit of common ground and it's quite close to home, which always helps."
