Brewers have already seen Harry’s threat...
GREAT GOAL AGAINST ALBION LAST SEASON, NOW JFH HOPES TO BENEFIT FROM LOAN
HARRY Chapman was dynamite for Shrewsbury Town against Burton Albion last season and now Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is hoping he can be dynamite for the Brewers.
Attacking midfielder Chapman has come in on loan at least until January from Blackburn Rovers but if things go well you would not bet against him staying for the rest of the season.
The Brewers did not play very well in a 2-1 defeat at the Pirelli Stadium against the Shrews in March but they may well have got away with a draw without the moment of supreme skill Chapman produced in the 56th minute.
A looping cross from the left curved back away from the defenders towards the edge of the penalty area, fortuitously for Chapman, certainly, as the ball dropped to him, but he met it with a measured, angled volley into the bottom corner.
He did not try to smash it too hard but made sure he kept it low and Ben Garratt in Burton’s goal had no chance.
It was reminiscent of the superb goal Jack Grealish had scored to kill off Albion’s challenge against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.
Chapman might not be heading for Grealish’s heights but he has the tools and the rest will be up to him.
He was on Hasselbaink’s radar before that night and, usefully, the Brewers appear to be developing a good working relationship with Blackburn.
From Burton’s point of view, they have established their credentials with Rovers and their respected manager Tony Mowbray after the success of Hayden Carter’s loan last season.
Carter has returned to Rovers ready to get into their first team after playing a big part in the Brewers’ charge to survival last year and he has found a place in the side at rightback so far. He is skilful enough to cope with that.
Hasselbaink gets on with Mowbray.
The two both played for Middlesbrough, albeit years apart and also did not cross over when Hasselbaink was still playing and Mowbray managed the north-east club.
Blackburn have now entrusted the next stage of Chapman’s development to Burton and – exciting as he is as a player – he is a way from the finished article yet.