Gillingham match saw Cameron starting to show value
BORTHWICK-JACKSON’S BEST GAME SO FAR FOR BREWERS
CAMERON Borthwick-jackson left the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday with a large bandage around his head.
He was smiling and seemingly in good spirits as he chatted to a group of fans outside, assuring them he would keep putting his head in where it might hurt.
There is often more chance of getting hurt against a team managed by Steve Evans although, in the 1-1 draw against Gillingham, this particular Evans team had largely eschewed the dark arts in favour of some enterprising football.
Borthwick-jackson had twice needed treatment during the game having caught a blow on the head.
Those incidents, neither of them malicious, had contributed to a mixed day for the former Manchester United starlet, robbed of the ball in a tight spot in the build-up to Gillingham’s goal but otherwise having his most involved and effective game so far for the Brewers.
He has been asked to play holding midfield as the injuries in that position have piled up for the team and, initially, away to Cambridge United, it was his way into the team, as he replaced Tom O’connor early in the game.
At Cambridge he was tidy rather than eye-catching, likewise against Cheltenham Town, and then the Bolton Wanderers game was more of an all hands to the pump affair for the Brewers.
But against Gillingham there were hints of the player who burst on to the scene with 10 Premier League games for Manchester United and of the player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dino Maamria believe he can be.
Maamria coached him with Oldham Athletic and he and the manager believe it is possible for Borthwick-jackson’s stalled career to take off again.
A couple of high quality moments emphasised the point.
When Kane Hemmings missed a chance for which, being the selfcritic he is, he is still probably kicking himself today, the most obvious part of the build-up to it was Harry Chapman’s surging run from midfield at the heart of the Gillingham defence before slipping Hemmings in. Looking back, Chapman would not have had the opportunity to make the run but for Borthwick-jackson’s initial break from defence. He was quick to spot that Tom Hamer’s headed clearance was going to bounce over the Gills’ Daniel Adshead and turned on the gas to catch him and pass him before slipping the ball on to Chapman.
In the second half, his awareness was to the fore again when he suddenly spotted a space opening up down the Burton left and hared into it.
Frazer Blake-tracy found him with a cute ball forward and Borthwick-jackson was away. His attempted shot or cross was blocked but I would not have been the only
one thinking, yes, more of that from you, please.
With nine minutes left, Blaketracy was taken off, Bryn Morris coming on, and Borthwick-jackson had the chance to move into his normal position at left-back.
There, he immediately looked assured. He is a player who can look like he has plenty of time and who usually picks a calm pass to a teammate.
It was good to see and it will be good for the Brewers if he uses this game as a spring board.
He has already stated his intention that Burton Albion should be one for him.
“It was a no-brainer when I heard there was interest (from Burton),” he said when he signed.
“I know Dino and I know his feelings on me as a player, so that was one of the reasons I came here.
“The manager is a legend in his own right so I met with them, their thoughts were the same as mine.
“I just want to prove myself this season, push on and help the club.”
Hasselbaink said at the time: “He has big potential, if we can get it right with him, and it’s a very exciting signing for us.”
After Saturday, I put it to Hasselbaink that it had probably been Borthwick-jackson’s best game for the club so far, for all that it is early days.
“He played really well. He made a mistake for the goal but after that he was in the game,” said Hasselbaink.
“He was our outlet. He played it very smart and showed a lot of energy, which was good.”
He is not one for over-praising players. You can take it he was happy with what he saw.
Whatever happened in Borthwickjackson’s early career that led to United sending him on a string of loans which went further and further down the Football League until he completed a full season for Oldham in 2020-21, following his release at Old Trafford, is irrelevant now.
He is 24 and the chance of a big career in football is not gone. The game is full of late bloomers, just as there are all too many promisinig careers which fade away to nothing.
Surely, Borthwick-jackson has too much ability and, hopefully, too much determination to be one of those.
The opportunity is there to build on Saturday’s display now.
He was our outlet. He played it very smart and showed a lot of energy, which was good.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink