PROGRESS REPORT IS ON O’NEILL’S AGENDA
Potters manager keeping a close eye on the next generation of City talent
MICHAEL O’neill has reiterated the importance of tightening the Stoke City squad as loan absentees make vacancies for youth players to catch the eye.
Stoke have let nine players leave permanently during O’neill’s 15 months in charge and have another dozen currently out on loan, of which perhaps only Tom Edwards and Lasse Sorensen have hopes to come back and fight for a shirt again.
The five players who left late in the transfer window – Lee Gregory, Tom Ince and Liam Lindsay, Moritz Bauer and Kevin Wimmer – had only made five league starts between them this season, but their temporary exits have created temporary space for others to stake a claim.
Striker Christian Norton, aged 19, was on the first-team bench for the first time in midweek and Will Forrester, the 19-year-old defender who signed a new 18-month contract this week, was also among the subs.
Right-back Kieran Coates, aged 19, has been in the build-up for today’s trip to Brentford (3pm) too, striker Ethon Varian, also 19, has been knocking on the door and Connor Taylor, another 19-yearold centre-half, has also earned an 18-month deal.
O’neill said: “We have 11 players out on loan and we’re probably the only club in the Championship who have that to deal with – and a smaller squad gives opportunities to younger players who are maybe doing well in the 23s.
“It’s important that we get to see those younger players and it’s very difficult to integrate them into training if your numbers are high because training has to be geared around preparation for games as well.
“Those are all little challenges, but certainly getting those players who were on the periphery out on loan has helped. The big thing going forward is to find long-term solutions to that.”
The under-23s have won five games in a row as they bid for promotion in Premier League
2 and players through the team
have been producing eye-catching performances, even if there is patience about the next step.
O’neill said: “They are doing well, extremely well. Kev Russell and Gareth Owen and the staff there have done a very good job with the group of players. They’re a very hard working team.
“We don’t drop too many players into play in those games either. Some teams utilise maybe that more so they’ve done exceptionally well. It’s what we want to see.
“It’s a massive jump still to come in and play from under-23 football and most of the players are 18 or 19. Equally, we’re always keeping an eye on their progress and we get them in to train with us when our numbers allow it.”
There are four who have made the leap under O’neill, with Harry Souttar, Tyrese Campbell, Nathan Collins and Joe Bursik all coming to prominence this season.
Chief executive Tony Scholes admits that is not a process that happens overnight.
He said: “One of the most pleasing aspects of the last 12 months, particularly the last six months, is how those young players have come into the team. It’s a long term project.
“Look at Harry, Tye, Nathan, Joe Bursik and all those of players are ones we signed three or four years ago who have come into the team this year.
“It takes that amount of time and you have to be patient as a club and allow those players to develop
appropriately, with the 18s, under23s and out on loan at other clubs as well.
“Those players are supplemented by young players who have been brought in since Michael came, adding youth and energy.
“It’s important we keep that going and I’d love to call it a conveyor belt – I’m not sure we’re at that stage yet – but it’s important we do bring those young players through.
“They become part of the football club, they know what the club is about and the club means something to them as well.”