BURTON Albion under 18s manager Sam Rose has praised Nigel Clough’s willingness to include youth academy prospects in the first team set up.
The Brewers included four academy graduates in their match day squad against Brighton and Hove Albion, with Matty Palmer, Marcus Harness and Ben Fox all getting game time, while Joe Sbarra was rewarded for his recent form of four goals in his last two games with a place on the first team bench.Rose, who has managed both Sbarra and Fox at under 18s level, says that it is rewarding to see young players being given opportunities.
“It is very refreshing and it is very encouraging for all of those involved with the academy, but all credit goes to the players who have got into the position that they are in, because they have got there through hard work.
“Yes they have talent but they also have the passion and desire to match that, which is something that I think the manager appreciates because players like Ben Fox and Joe Sbarra take every opportunity that they are given in the first team, whether it be training or in games, for instance Joe scored a hat trick in a reserve game and Ben played very well out of position at centre half and was very professional.
“These boys just want to do the best they can be and that, in combination with a manager who is going to afford those players the opportunity, gives the rest of the players in the academy something to strive for.”