Harper’s knocking on door for return
WILL we see Rekeem Harper back in the stripes of West Bromwich Albion this Saturday afternoon? Ordinarily, that’s not a question that springs to the mind of any Albion fan ahead of a Championship match.
That isn’t a slight on Harper, more that those in front of him – namely Romaine Sawyers and Jake Livermore – have been streets ahead of any other midfielder at the club currently.
As we all now know, though, Slaven Bilic will be deprived of both of his first-choice midfielders on Saturday when Sheffield Wednesday turn up at the Hawthorns.
Those two spots need filling, as unenviable a task as that sounds, from Bilic’s remaining options. Does that mean a recall for Harper?
We haven’t seen the youngster since August. He’s not even been a benchwarmer in the first team.
Harper, 19, committed his future to Albion in the summer with his previous deal set to expire, but he has played just six minutes of Championship football thus far and hasn’t even made the bench in their last 14 matches.
The midfielder did, though, play 90 minutes for Albion in their Carabao Cup tie at The Hawthorns against Millwall in August, in a game where the visitors prevailed.
Bilic hadn’t been pleased with Harper’s application, and told him as much. The Croat had been extremely impressed by Harper’s immediate response in training, but supporters haven’t see hide nor hair of him anywhere near the first team since.
Bilic has already provided evidence that he is more than happy to utilise the younger players in the squad, with Kyle Edwards, Dara O’Shea and Nathan Ferguson all getting regular matchday places.
“Rekeem Harper is training unbelievably well,” Bilic said back in August, when asked about Harper’s disappearance. “At the beginning I wasn’t happy with him, I told him that. After Millwall in the cup, I had a chat with him.
“Since then, he’s been training like crazy. He’s excellent in training, but at the moment it’s very difficult. His reaction was great and positive. He’s a great talent. I insisted that he stayed, because he was out of contract. I rate him extremely highly and I have had meetings with him and talks. He’s improving a lot since then, the quality was never in doubt.
“Like any other player he has to be patient, work hard, and wait for his chance that is going to come.”
Telling words, and you don’t doubt that Bilic’s opinion of Harper is indeed an honest one. What will be more telling, though, is in what capacity – if at all – that Harper is involved this weekend.
Semi Ajayi, Filip Krovinovic, Chris Brunt and even the returning Gareth Barry are all options to Bilic in the heart of the pitch, but this is an opportunity for Harper to show that he’s learning.
He’s been completing 90 minutes on a regular basis for the Baggies’ in-form U23s side and lined up alongside Barry and Brunt in their Central League Cup win over Port Vale on Tuesday.
This is a player who was first choice at the end of last season, and who excited at The Hawthorns as Jimmy Shan’s side cemented their place in the division’s top six. He must make sure that those promising displays weren’t a false dawn.
Having been rewarded with the security of that new long-term deal, Harper must act upon any opportunity he is afforded by Bilic this weekend.
Prince William will call in at Albion in support of the mental wellbeing campaign he leads. The Duke of Cambridge, who is President of the FA, will meet Bilic and first-team players next week.
He will discuss the importance of encouraging more people, particularly men, to feel comfortable talking about their mental health.
The Prince’s visit next Thursday, November 28, is linked to Heads Up.
That is the campaign launched by the FA and mental health charity Heads Together to raise awareness, spark conversation and signpost support for those in need.