THREE of Burton Albion’s home-grown players are looking forward to the start of the 2023/24 season after signing new deals.
Tom Hewlett and Finn Delap have signed one-year contracts while Jakub Niemczyk has a six-month deal.
Hewlett was one of four Academy graduates to earn professional contracts in the summer of 2020.
The striker was a regular scorer for the Young Brewers and quickly made his professional debut as a substitute in the EFL Trophy in September 2020 against Peterborough United.
He has enjoyed successful loan spells to gain further experience in men’s football.
He said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to prove my worth. I'm very focused on where I need to get to and what's required of me. It hasn't been the easiest of journeys since my injury, but I believe that towards the end of last season I was able to start moving forward and was making the progression required in training.
“There's a lot of competition in the striker department at the club, but I'm ready for the challenge.”
Winger Jakub Niemczyk is also an Academy graduate who signed his first professional contract in July 2022 but has since been hit by injury blows.
He said: “I’m delighted, it’s been a difficult couple of years being injured so I’m just excited to get back on the pitch and show what I’m about. I’ve recently had another operation that’s set me back, but I’ll be back on the grass in the next couple of months.
“My goals for the season are to get back as soon as I can and in the best form I can. I’ve been at the club for ten years now and I just want to be able to show what I’m about.”
Centre back Finn Delap made a big impression last season in the Professional Development Phase side.
He said: “It’s everything I’ve worked for, and it’s come down to this. I’ve got my first professional contract and now it’s time to kick on. It’s just an amazing feeling.
‘I still need to learn. I want to learn from my peers, senior members and staff in the group to try and improve and maybe even make a couple of first-team appearances or go on loan and play men’s football.
“I spoke to the manager at the end of last season, and he just said take the opportunity. He knows what kind of player I am, and he hopes to see me improve a lot more and spark something to catch his eye in a training session or a match to hopefully get a chance of playing in the first team.”
Brewers manager Dino Maamria said: “We always try to create that pathway from the Academy to the first team. Dan Robinson has been part of the first team as well as the Academy Manager and he knows what’s required to get through.
“We took Finn as he has a lot of potential and we believe that he is someone who could be capable of playing in the first team.
“Tom has made great progress in the last 12 months and his loan spells have helped him massively. He has developed as a player and got in the squad at the end of last season, and he deserves this extension and it’s a great opportunity for him to further progress his career.
“Kuba has shown a lot of promise but experienced injury problems but with the support of our medical staff is getting back to full fitness. We want get him back to fitness and give him a level playing field to showcase his talent.”