"Very impressed, very impressed, and sometimes even a little bit surprised," said Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber about Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek last month. "He's young, and he looks like an outstanding, experienced Championship goalkeeper."
The general rule with United loans is that they send players with a genuine chance of contributing to the first team at Old Trafford on loan to the Championship. Vitek and Toby Collyer are currently playing in the division. Alvaro Fernandez and Amad were success stories at Preston and Sunderland respectively.
The Championship is an unforgiving 46-game campaign, and young players must demonstrate resilience and quality to be successful in the division.
Vitek has shown a lot of quality since he signed for Bristol City on a season-long loan. The goalkeeper has started every league game, kept five clean sheets and has won huge praise from their fans.
He made the perfect first impression after signing on loan, saving a penalty in Bristol City's final pre-season game, and has not looked back.
Daniel Carter of the Bristol Post told the Manchester Evening News: "In truth, I, and the majority of Bristol City fans, didn't quite know what to expect from Radek Vitek, given his limited minutes in English football.
"Of course, signing a player from Manchester United always brings with it a sense of excitement, but the 22-year-old was certainly an unknown quantity when he arrived.
"A penalty save and clean sheet in his first, and only, friendly for the Robins against Real Valladolid impressed those in attendance, and Vitek has only improved from that point on.
"His opening day display away to Sheffield United was superb as he commanded his penalty area brilliantly and pulled off a handful of smart stops from a variety of different scenarios.
"While you would expect a young goalkeeper to potentially be a bit of a rabbit in the headlights in what is an incredibly physical Championship this season, Vitek has looked like a veteran stopper in England's second tier."
He continued: "Barring one uncharacteristic error in the 5-1 defeat to Stoke City, Vitek has been brilliant. It isn't an exaggeration to suggest he has single-handedly won points on several occasions.
"He has produced multiple match-deciding stops at crucial points of matches. Vitek has kept five clean sheets over the course of his first 15 matches in red and white, and you could argue he deserves more.
"Against the likes of Charlton, Norwich City, Birmingham City and Hull City, it was his work between the posts as much as that of the attackers at the other end of the pitch that proved to be the difference, with his showing against the Addicks in particular a real standout.
"The fans have taken to him, as displayed by his interactions with away ends. The fact that he has kept Max O'Leary out of the team - the goalkeeper who played all 46 matches last season as the Reds ended their 17-year wait for a top six finish - speaks volumes to just how impressed Struber has been so far."
Vitek cut his teeth on loan with Accrington Stanley in the second half of 2023/24. He joined the League Two club in the winter window and made 18 starts in the league, helping to guide them to safety.
When Vitek reported for pre-season at Carrington after that loan, he started in a United friendly against Rosenborg in Norway and delivered a man-of-the-match performance.
He told MUTV: "It's really good for youngsters to get the opportunity, but when you step on the field you have to show yourself because it's a big chance in front of a lot of people."
When asked about what it was like to represent United in pre-season, Vitek smiled and added: "It's an amazing feeling, the fans are absolutely amazing and it was a full stadium of red shirts."
Vitek was named in the 29-man travelling squad for the United States tour, but he was sent on a season-long loan to Austrian club FC Blau-Weiß Linz after returning to Manchester.
During his unveiling, FC Blau-Weiß Linz's sporting director said: "With Radek, we are getting a very talented young goalkeeper who has already gained a lot of experience in England and is, among other things, part of the goalkeeping team of Manchester United's first team."
Vitek started almost every league game for FC Blau-Weiß Linz, only missing three matches due to an injury. His loan was a resounding success and FC Blau-Weiß Linz wanted to re-sign him on loan this summer.
Speaking in June, United academy goalkeeper coach Tommy Lee said: "Radek has done great in Austria. He got an injury early on but recovered extremely well and played really well.
"He has got really good experience there. I think we often use Radek as an example to some of the younger goalkeepers. He is a player who maximises every part of the programme to ensure he is the best he can possibly be. Nutrition, gym, analysis. He is the consummate professional.
"That is going to take him, I believe, to the top level. He is a talented boy and that needs to be said. He's 6ft 6ins, which always helps. For the other lads, their challenge is to be as good as Radek and do everything he does and more. He is a great example of someone who does that."
Bristol City was chosen as the best destination for Vitek to take the next step in his career, and he signed a new contract with United, expiring in 2028, before moving south to Ashton Gate for this season.
Carter explained: "United fans will have likely seen the clip of the ridiculous save Radek Vitek made to deny Oli McBurnie from close range in City's win over Hull City back in October.
"He got down well to claw a low header off the line and away from danger, a stop you wouldn't imagine someone his size could make, and it was just one of multiple key saves in that contest.
"His intervention to deny Norwich City's Jack Stacey at Carrow Road may have been even better, however. Stacey had peeled into space in the centre of the penalty area and wrapped his foot around a cut-back to fire a shot towards the bottom right corner.
"Despite having an obscured view, Vitek took off to his left and got down well to not only get a big hand on the bouncing shot but also push it into the path of Neto Borges, who could hack clear.
"Struber said after that win at Carrow Road that even he was surprised at times by just what Vitek was capable of. I am probably forgetting other impressive saves, but the fact that there are quite so many to pick from is a testament to just how good Vitek has been during his loan."
Discussing Vitek's strengths and weaknesses, Carter said: "He is a really good shot-stopper. Whether it be when reacting to close-range efforts or when dealing with looping shots from range, he seems to have the answer more often than not.
"If you were to look back at the goals he has conceded so far this season, you'd do well to suggest he could have done much better with all but a handful of them.
"When it comes to commanding his box, he uses every inch of his frame to deal well with high balls, whether that be from open play or set-pieces. It has been clear this season just how much more comfortable Bristol City have been when defending corners, and a large part of that has been their goalkeeper's willingness to leave his line and deal with looping balls.
"It is challenging to identify a major weakness, but I think you could make a compelling argument that distribution is Vitek's primary area for improvement.
"He can kick the ball further than most goalkeepers I've seen at Ashton Gate, and he has pulled off a couple of smart - if concerning - Cruyff turns, but he has probably kicked goal kicks into touch a bit too often. He is by no means terrible with the ball at his feet, but he could be a bit more polished."
When asked whether Vitek could play in the Premier League, he added: "Absolutely. Bristol City have signed several players on loan from Premier League clubs over the years, and although it is still early days, Radek Vitek has been one of the most impressive.
"Vitek has been one of the division's best shot stoppers and he is excellent when it comes to commanding his box. Naturally, given his age and lack of top-flight experience, he has room to improve, but you would struggle to find a Bristol City fan who wasn't confident that Vitek will play in the Premier League.
"Of course, it will depend on what Manchester United plan to do with him come the end of his time at Ashton Gate, but I would imagine his performances will have caught the eye of some Premier League sides.
"Whether it be at Old Trafford, another club, or hopefully, in another loan spell with the Robins after helping them win promotion this term, I'd expect Vitek to be playing top-flight football next season."
Vitek recently sat down with Sky Sports to discuss his successful loan. "It's true, it came a little bit out of nowhere," he said about signing for Bristol City. "I knew I was going to go on loan this season because I had an agreement with the coach.
"It was the best thing to do and get more experience at a higher level than last year. It was a no-brainer because to play in the Championship for a club such as Bristol City for me was really attractive. I said yes straight away after I spoke with Gerhard Struber."
Vitek continued: "I'm still quite young, but I would describe myself as a goalkeeper who likes to be both dominant and also confident for the team in front of me so they can rely on me.
"Everything since day one has come together. The people around the club, the city... everyone has been really nice to me since day one and the fans have been amazing. The first game away from home... to celebrate the win like that was an amazing memory. I don't think I'll ever forget it."
He went on to discuss his hopes of playing for United. "I'm taking it step-by-step and we'll see next summer what's best for me," he said. "I speak on a regular basis with my goalkeeper coach from Manchester United who has come here to watch my games and I have a good connection with them.
"I know they're watching me and I really appreciate that I'm not just the guy who is being forgotten or anything. Obviously long term, I would love to play for Manchester United one day, but also I'm realistic and I know that my pathway can lead somewhere different as well."
Vitek has huge potential and could challenge Senne Lammens for the No.1 spot next season.