POTTERS’ DYNAMIC DUO
Russell has ‘special’ hopes for strikers Tezgel and Lowe after star turns in European victory
NEW ‘monster’ Stoke City teen strikeforce Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe have the potential to offer the club something special, hopes coach Kevin Russell.
Tezgel and Lowe have come through the academy together and it was a statement of how highly they are rated by the club that they were given their first professional contracts as soon as that was allowed when they turned 17 in September.
But, because Tezgel has always played at a higher age group, they have only just been paired together – in the under-21s, even if they are both still only first years with the 18s – and they have scored four goals between them in their first two outings.
Tezgel, back from injury which has limited his game time since training with the first team in pre-season, has got three of those, including the first in a 2-0 Premier League International Cup win over Hertha Berlin at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night.
Russell said: “They’re both firstyear scholars. They’re monsters. They’ve got so much to learn, don’t get me wrong, but the ingredients are there to improve and hopefully, if you can keep them together and keep them playing well together… who knows? It could be a really good partnership.
“Right the way through I thought they looked a real handful again, against two men.
“I thought they caused them problems all night.
“Emre’s always played up an age group all the way through so we’ve not really had them together. Now it’s the first time we’re really seeing them get together. There’s hopefully a very good partnership blossoming.”
Stoke had defending to do against Hertha, but were dogged and disciplined as they picked up their first three points of the competition, having had a bit of an eye-opening debut last month against Portuguese side Braga.
“I thought they were really good, the back five,” said Russell.
“The three centre-halves were outstanding and Tommy, another scholar, was assured in goal. If they keep progressing and keep their feet on the floor, hopefully the future is bright.”
He added: “It’s a brilliant tournament. Even the first game I thought we played well at times and it was never a result that reflected the game.
“It was an entertaining game and they were really ruthless at the top end of the pitch on the night.
“We felt that if we could reproduce that performance and be a little bit more solid that we would have a chance, which we managed to do.”
Stoke head to Arsenal at Borehamwood in the Premier League Cup on Saturday while next up in the International Cup it is French giants Paris Saint-germain, who visit the bet365 Stadium next month.
“Should be an easy one, shouldn’t it?” smiled Russell.
“These are the games that you want to play in, aren’t they? It’s great for the kids. It all depends on which team they send out or bring. You’re not quite sure what you’re going to come up against but we know what we’ll be: young!
“It’s a great experience for the kids. If we win, brilliant, but the most important thing is that we play well and if we play well and we’re in the game, that’s what we’re looking for.”
He added: “If you look at the record of the academy over the last few years we’ve got people through it shows that it works. We’ve got to get our recruitment right and if we get our recruitment right, the club gives them a platform to be able to try to produce and see where they can go. Hopefully that continues.”