MANAGER Nigel Clough says that Burton Albion’s younger talents will have a big role to play this season.
Academy scholars Regan Ganley and Tom Armitage have already featured for the first-team in pre-season friendlies this summer, as well as graduates Marcus Harness, Ben Fox, Joe Sbarra, Marcus Dinanga and Reece Hutchinson.
Clough says that it is a big positive to see Academy players coming into the first-team squad and says that the youngsters will have the opportunity to impress this season.
“It is lovely to see some players from the Academy coming in and playing. Tom Armitage was only 16 last month and made his debut against Kidderminster, and had a hand in the winning goal.
“As much as (pre-season) is about fitness, it is also about blooding some of the youngsters and getting them used to the environment.
“We have said over the last few months that they will get an opportunity this season, the squad will be small, it will be a tight squad. The senior players have got to stay fit, so your likes of Marcus Harness, Joe Sbarra and Hutchinson will be around the 18 (man matchday squad).”