Harper starts new chapter in a tale of the unexpected
TWO years ago West Brom’s Rekeem Harper was being linked with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Celtic.
A breakthrough campaign under Darren Moore, as part of a functional Baggies side who reached the Championship play-offs, the midfielder seemingly possessed all of the cards as his contract ticked down.
A summer move to one of the biggest clubs in Britain seemed as real as his enormous potential.
That was the spring of 2019, this is the spring of 2021 and while Albion are in the Premier League, the relegation battle into which Harper has been thrown isn’t even theirs.
Instead, he’s on loan at Birmingham City, helping near neighbours avoid the drop to League One. Expect the unexpected in football.
However, Harper has at least started to go forward again. After deciding to sign a new contract at The Hawthorns and playing only 13 matches last season and even fewer this, he is finally important again, as part of Aitor Karanka’s Blues team.
“To begin with it was a frustrating situation because I signed but it’s not always as you envisage it,” the 20-year-old said.
“The way I look at it is everything happens for a reason. If it wasn’t meant to happen then it’s going to happen another time.
“I feel like it has made me into a different person now and I think mentally I am in a different place. I feel like I am a better player now from the setbacks, I feel like I have worked at my game to try and improve things that maybe weren’t at that level before.
“You never know what could happen in the future, I have just got my head down right now trying to help Blues and improve as a player, we will see what will happen. West Brom didn’t say much to me. With them in a similar position at the moment they wanted me to go out and get some experience, get my confidence back playing and show everyone what I can do.
“Right now, I have got a bit of a point to prove but I enjoy that opportunity because I haven’t had that feeling in a while, of being out there and proving a point and helping a team win.
“I am just thankful and feel blessed to have that opportunity here. I have been given another opportunity to go and play men’s football.
“There is a level I would like to reach, I have my own personal goals as well as being involved in firstteam football.
“I feel like you always have a point to prove in first-team football, to show why you are good enough to play at that level. That’s the way my mind is working now.”
Birmingham City can be a producer of false dawns, but the signs have been positive so far. Harper has improved the team’s ability to play its way upfield and now looks set for a key role in the relegation battle.
“The boys are confident,” he continued. “We have got a good group, we have got a lot of experience, there’s George (Friend), there’s Harlee (Dean), there’s Jukey (Lukas Jutkiewicz) that have played many games and have got vast experience.
“With the quality of player we have in here and the experience I feel quite confident we can do this.
“There is no reason why we can’t do it, it’s there for us, we have just got to take the opportunity.”
OKAY Yokuslu admits West Brom blew their big survival chance against Newcastle.
The Baggies drew 0-0 with the Magpies on Sunday and are eight points from Premier League safety with 10 matches left.
They have won just three league games all season but, despite improved recent performances, have not been able to gain ground in the battle to beat the drop.
Celta Vigo loanee Yokuslu said: “The feeling is we have missed an opportunity.
“It was a very important game for us and it hurts that we haven’t won it.
“Everyone in the dressing room is sad because we desperately wanted three points.
“We had chances and we should have won the game. I think we played well and I think
we were the much better team. “We cannot change the result now. We have to stay positive and stay focused on trying to get out of trouble.
“We wanted more than four points from these three home games.
“I think we deserved more as well but this is football and it can happen. Sometimes you don’t get what you think you deserve.
“We have to keep working. It’s a positive thing for us to have kept a few clean sheets recently.
“We’ve been working on our defensive duties, but clean sheets are not enough for us at this stage.
“We know we have to be winning games because that’s the only way we are going to catch teams above us.”
The Magpies climbed to 16th but Fulham’s win at Liverpool means they are just a point above the relegation zone. “Unfortunately we couldn’t win the game, a point probably wasn’t what we wanted, but I think we have to look on the positive side of things and that one point could be crucial come the end of the season,” said Paul Dummett.
TOTTENHAM legend Glenn Hoddle believes Ollie Watkins should be given a call-up to the England squad.
Watkins has enjoyed a wonderful first season in the Premier League following his £28 million switch from Brentford, having scored 12 goals for Villa to date.
And with the striker continuing to win high praise for his performances, there is a feeling it won’t be long before he wins international recognition.
Hoddle believes England manager Gareth Southgate could do worse than take a chance on Watkins.
“There’s a few strikers out there doing well,” he said. “I think the lad at Villa, Watkins, is worth having a little look at, I really do.
“I think he deserves it the way he has been playing. You can never have enough good centre-forwards in and around a squad, just in case you get injuries and things change.”
Hoddle’s desire to see Watkins in the England squad for their World Cup qualifiers later this month comes after Matt Targett was reportedly placed on Southgate’s radar.
The England chief has been impressed by the left-back’s performances. The 25-year-old has been ever-present for Villa in the league this season and is part of a defence which has kept 14 clean sheets.
Targett does have England honours at under-19s, under-20s and under-21s level and is now looking good to make it into the senior squad, who face qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland. Southgate has watched Villa in person for the games against Leicester and Leeds.
Head coach Dean Smith said: “Matt’s having a fantastic season, his consistency has been great. He’s getting better all of the time. He’s been one of our standout players this season.”
The England squad is due to be announced on March 18.