Jack Harper, given the tag of ‘the Kid from Madrid’, came to Brighton with a big reputation in the summer but, due to injury, his chance in the U21 Development side didn’t come for a while.
Since it has Harper’s impressed!
With his Madrid background, and his recent performances for the U21’s, including a goalscoring one against Norwich in a cup win this week, it’s been asked ‘when will Chris Hughton’ call on him for the first-team?
The answer, with what he told the Argus, has come from Simon Rusk.
His U21 boss said he’s ‘finding his fitness’ and also ‘his sharpness’ with him progressing well, but he’s stressed he’s still got work to do on his all-round game as much as anything.
‘Jack is finding his feet, he is finding his fitness, he is finding his sharpness.
‘He took his goal excellently and he showed some really intelligent, bright play. I said to him after the game that defending is a part of the game he will have to pay attention to but he knows that.’
Rusk is enjoying working with a player of his ability though!
He added, especially with him working back from ‘a nasty injury’, Hughton isn’t likely to be ‘rushing him into anything’ as it’s better for him to get physically ready and build this up at U21 level instead of bursting onto the first-team squad too soon and causing a setback.
‘I must say on the training ground I’ve enjoyed working with him. He is a very astute character and he wants to get better, which is the most important thing.
‘He had a nasty injury and was out for a long time so we won’t be rushing him into anything. He needs to gradually build on his sharpness with every game he plays.’
If the midfielder – and Hughton’s shown already that he’ll not rush anyone into the his squad and starting XI even if they’re a senior player let alone youngster – is involved in the Brighton first-team this side of Christmas it’ll be a surprise you sense.
When the New Year arrives this could be a different matter for Albion mind….
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