Derry: Sion has excellent work ethic
CRYSTAL Palace Under-23s coach Shaun Derry believes Sion Spence will endear himself to Bristol Rovers fans, not just with goals but with his work ethic.
The 20-year-old is into the second week of a season-long loan move from Palace, with Derry trusting former team-mates Joey Barton and Clint Hill to nurture the Wales Under-21 international.
Spence, pictured, played 45 minutes in Rovers’ 1-1 friendly with Plymouth Argyle at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, his first taste of action in a senior men’s football after racking up impressive numbers in the Eagles’ development squad.
The Bristol Post spoke to former QPR and Leeds midfielder Derry about Spence.
DESCRIBE SION AS A PLAYER. WHAT ARE HIS BEST ATTRIBUTES?
“SION is very much a team player, his work ethic is excellent, works extremely hard for the team, very unselfish as a player and I would say his best attributes are his ability to score off both feet and always run in behind, causing a threat to the opposition.”
SION APPEARS TO HAVE TRAITS REQUIRED TO PLAY IN A NUMBER OF POSITIONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HIS STRONGEST?
“IT’S definitely playing off a number nine or maybe as an out and out 10, perhaps a second centre forward, he’s got the ability to play in a number of positions which we utilised well last year but when he picks up the ball centrally that appears to be his most dominant part of the pitch.”
SION’S NUMBERS IN DEVELOPMENT FOOTBALL FOR CARDIFF AND PALACE ARE OUTSTANDING. HOW HIGHLY RATED IS HE BY THE COACHES AT PALACE?
“WHEN Sion first arrived from Cardiff it took him a little bit of time to get used to a new football club and new surroundings but once he found his feet and gained in confidence, he took the eye of a lot of people. He’s very much a team player and us in the academy really understood the value of that type of player.”
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR ANY YOUNG PLAYER MAKING THEIR WAY IN THE PROFESSIONAL GAME IS MEETING THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE EFL. IS SION READY FOR THAT CHALLENGE?
“WE’VE worked on his characteristics of being more physical, the staff at Crystal Palace have all played a massive part in developing Sion as an individual and a physical specimen.
“He’s made huge gains in the year he has spent with us, and I feel very confident he’ll be able to adapt to the physical demands of the EFL.”
WHAT CONVINCED PALACE THAT ROVERS WAS THE RIGHT CLUB FOR HIM TO CONTINUE HIS DEVELOPMENT? DID JOEY BARTON’S PRESENCE AS MANAGER INFLUENCE THAT DECISION?
“LIKE with every young player here at Crystal Palace, we treat them individually and look for a pathway that suits them.
“Not one player has been sent out on loan and not come back with a valuable experience and we feel Bristol Rovers are a huge club in League Two and we feel the management team, not just in Joey Barton but with Clint Hill as well, will help develop Sion even further, obviously exposing the player to Football League experience will develop him as an individual as well.
“However many games he gets to play for Joey Barton and Rovers, we are assured he’s going to be in good hands and we feel that we’re sending a very accomplished and well-rounded young player.”