NIGEL Clough was pleased with the performance of Reece Hutchinson in his first-team debut against Aston Villa.
Hutchinson, who was awarded a professional deal along with fellow Academy graduate Callum Hawkins during the summer, played 80 minutes as the Brewers contested their first friendly at the Pirelli Stadium this year.
Clough was pleased with how Hutchinson grew into the game and was pleased to see the young Brewer take his opportunity.
He said: I thought that he acquitted himself very well. For the first 10 minutes, he looked nervous, but once he settled into the game we had no problems at all with him.
“That is one of the advantages of not having an under 23s squad. When you leave the Academy at 18 and get a professional deal, which a couple of them have done, you are straight in with the first team.
“That is a sink or swim situation, but that means that they will get opportunities in games like the one against Aston Villa.”