West Brom boss issues challenge to club's youngsters
Dec 5 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail
ROBERTO Di Matteo has called on his youngsters to force their way back into his first-team plans.
The Albion head coach called up George Thorne for last weekend’s 4-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, with the 16-year-old making his debut late on in the game.
Fellow academy player Saido Berahino also travelled but failed to make the final 18 for the Hillsborough game.
But, importantly, both players got an opportunity to experience a first-team matchday.
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Di Matteo believes the next two years are vital to their respective development as players.
Both were on a high after last weekend, with Berahino, also 16, scoring twice in Albion’s FA Youth Cup win at Swansea.
“The next two or three years will be important as it is with all the others who have potential,” said Di Matteo.
“We will see when he’s next in. I hope to have more senior players but if I have to dip into the youth team then I will.
“Saido scored two goals in the FA Youth Cup game and they won 3-0.
“That’s what I want from my players – to perform on a weekly basis and show the potential.
“I think it’s a great boost for everyone in youth system and academy to see that if they work hard and play well then they have a chance.”
Another player taking chances recently is Simon Cox.
His team-mate, Jonas Olsson, comes up against the striker – scorer of four goals in four games – every day in training and he has been impressed by Cox’s impact.
“To be fair to him, all season he has been good at keeping his spirits up and being professional,” said Olsson.
“Even if he has been on the bench he has been coming in with a smile on his face and just being ‘at it’ and that’s why he is being repaid now with goals.
“When he has been on the bench he hasn’t put his head down and he has been determined that when he got his chance he would take it, and he has. I am happy for him.”
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