Hinshelwood: It's crazy to play for Albion

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Midfielder reflects on another successful season.

Bruce Talbot

2025-06-10T06:00+01:00

Jack Hinshelwood will be heading to the UEFA U21 EURO finals this weekend. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Jack Hinshelwood has described his journey from the under-8s in our academy up to the first team as 'crazy'.

How would you describe your relationship with Fabian Hurzeler?

Jack Hinshelwood has played at both right back and in central midfield under Fabian Hurzeler. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Strong, I think. He's a really great guy and so easy to talk to. When I go out on that pitch, I just want to give my all for him and for my teammates. He has a close relationship with all the players, and I think it makes us want to work for him that bit more. You saw how much the win over West Ham meant to him, he wants to win, simple as that. I'm still young, but the manager tells me I need to become more of a leader and it's something I'm working on and there's so many great leaders here to learn from, so I just take little things from them each day and try to bring them to my own game.

You’ve again shown your versatility this season playing in various positions, but central midfield is where you feel you’re at your most effective, isn’t it?

Yes, I’d say in the middle, but you know I'd play anywhere for the team. Everyone in the squad sometimes has to play out of position – look at Carlos Baleba going in alongside Dunky for a couple of games. I might not be in my best position, but I try to give my all.

Do you still pinch yourself at the journey you’ve been on with the club from under-8s to first team?

It's a bit crazy, quite surreal really. When I came into the club, the training facilities at Lancing were still being built and the club was playing in the Championship. So now to be an established Premier League club and to be playing for them is really special for me. When you start at age seven or eight, obviously you don’t look much further ahead than next week and to imagine as a ten-year-old playing in the Premier League was not on my mind! When I was injured, I did have a bit more time to think about the journey I have been on and how it motivated me to keep going because I don’t want to waste this opportunity. I know how fortunate I am to be doing what I’m doing at the age I’m doing it at, so I will keep working hard and hopefully progressing.

I remember Adam Lallana saying he felt you should be in the first team before you’d even made your debut. How big an influence have the senior players had on your development?

Adam Lallana made 104 appearances for Albion in all competitions. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

When I made that transition from the under-21s to the first team, so many players just made me feel so welcome and respected me for who I was and how hard I worked. Pascal Gross, Dunky, Danny Welbeck and Jason Steele were all so great and made the step up as easy as it can be. And they are still doing that with some of the young players who have come to the club since. It’s one of the things which makes Brighton so special as a club. Roberto De Zerbi then gave me my debut and I will always be thankful to him for that. I always remember when I made my debut at Aston Villa and he told me to go out and play with big balls!