‘Youngsters have given us freshness’

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Charlie Hanson

2025-02-23T06:00+00:00

Aidan West scored a hat-trick in our 7-0 win over Whitehawk no Tuesday night. 📷 by James Boardman.

Our men’s under-21s are benefitting from fresh blood in the squad, according to head coach Shannon Ruth.

A number of under-18s have made the step up since the transfer window closed, and Ruth says their arrival has brought the best out of his group.

Ruth said, “It's given us a freshness as they've come into the group with a real motivation. What can happen generally in under-21s football is players can spend a long time in that age group and they can, without meaning to, lose motivation and get a bit comfortable.

Our men's under-21s face Aston Villa in Premier League 2 on Sunday. 📷 by James Boardman.

“But when the group is injected with five, six, seven new and younger players who have been waiting in the under-18s you do get an energy, a freshness and players with the appetite to get better.

“It gives a different dynamic to the back end of the season. They have adapted really well and added some good energy to the group.”

The under-21s are back in Premier League 2 action on Sunday (4pm) as they entertain Aston Villa, which follows their 7-0 win over Whitehawk in the Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final.

Shannon Ruth alongside coaches Jason McCarthy and Mikey Harris. 📷 by James Boardman.

“The discussion about complacency was certainly in our post-match meeting. That's the positive challenge when you work with young players. Our job is to try and keep them humble and keep them level," added Ruth.

“We're adapting with a new group and we are setting new standards and new demands that they're not necessarily used to.

“We're heading in the right direction, but there's still loads to do, loads to learn, loads to get better at. But we're really optimistic for the last part of the season, we’re in a semi-final now, two quarter-finals and the playoffs in Premier League 2.”

Victory against Villa could lift the under-21s up to fifth in Premier League 2.