Dicker: First team chance priceless for young players

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Our men's under-21s face Fulham in Premier League 2 on Friday.

Charlie Hanson

2023-12-01T06:00:00Z

Josh Duffus, Jack Hinshelwood and Benicio Baker-Boaitey on the bench at Forest.

Albion under-21s coach Gary Dicker believes the recent inclusion of young players in our Premier League matchday squads will prove to be a priceless experience.

Four academy players were named on the bench for our 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Jack Hinshelwood coming on after 34 minutes for the injured Tariq Lamptey.

“Some players aren’t lucky enough to experience the Premier League, let alone a game like the one against Forest,” the former Albion midfielder said. “The emotion, it had a little bit of everything and to have that many young players involved backs up the message that you’ve always got to be ready.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity for the players that have been involved. Sometimes when you’re a young player you can feel like you’re a million miles away from the first team, but it can change in a flash.

“We’ve got staff and a manager that wants to involve young players in the first team. The previous [Premier League] game against Sheffield United we had Mark [O’Mahony], Benny [Baker-Boaitey] and Josh [Duffus] on the bench.

“We were trying to concentrate on our Premier League 2 game against Hull City that kicked off at the same time, but it was brilliant to see those boys involved with the first team – it gives everyone life.”

Dicker continued, “We’ve probably never had as many players get the opportunity to go over there and train as we do now.

Ben Jackson and Josh Duffus were both named in a Premier League squad for the first time in their careers last Saturday.

“That’s the result of a lot of hard work in the academy. Look at Jack Hinshelwood, he’s come from pre-academy all the way up.

"Every staff member who has worked with him will get great satisfaction from his first team involvement and I am not talking in particular about the under-21s – we’re the very last step on a long journey. We’re all delighted with the opportunities the players are getting.”

The under-21s are in Premier League 2 action on Friday as they take on Fulham at Motspur Park.

They head into that on the back of a fairly good November, winning three of their five matches, although their one defeat did come to Steyning Town in the Sussex Senior Cup.

There was also a thrilling 4-3 victory over Celtic in the Premier League International Cup at The Amex, all of which plays a part in the under-21s’ progression according to Gary.

“Nights like the one against Celtic help keep levels high, because it’s a different but crucial experience. Steyning isn’t the same as Forest, but there are also similarities to it, the crowd are breathing down your neck, if anything the fans at Steyning are closer to you!

“That pressure is something the players are going to feel. It gives you all the different experiences you need to be ready to go up on the first team side.”