Graham Potter handed Connolly and Alzate their full Albion debuts in last night’s 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers, and he praised the young duo, who claimed a goal and assist respectively, for their promising performances.
He said, “They didn’t look out of place, they worked hard, and they’re part of the group. It was important for them to play tonight, get some game time and feel able to be on the pitch with the other guys.
“Application-wise and attitude-wise, they’ve been spot on and worked really hard every single day since I’ve been here.
“They’re in our group and train with us every day. They’re part of our dressing room, and our job is to help them grow. They’ve got quality, but they’re still learning.”
Connolly broke the deadlock with his first senior goal, before Alzate teed up Glenn Murray for his match-winning strike in stoppage time, and Potter continued to evaluate the impact and potential of both players.
“Aaron’s got that knack of scoring, which is a nice knack to have. He likes to run in behind and threatens the back line of defenders, playing off the shoulder.
“He’s a young lad with a lot to learn, of course, but he worked really well with us in pre-season and it was important for him to play.
“Steven was probably as good as anyone on the pitch, to be honest. His contribution for the second goal was fantastic, so I’m pleased for him as well.
“They’re two good lads and it was nice for them to be part of a good team performance against a good Bristol Rovers side.”
When asked if Connolly’s near future lies with Albion or out on loan, Potter revealed his intentions to keep the Irishman within his first-team squad, and challenged the 19-year-old to fight for game time.
“He’s in our group and he’s competing for a spot in our matchday squad. Training with our players every day is of big benefit to him, and obviously games like this can help him.
“Glenn [Murray] played a bit of a sacrificial role, a bit more off the side to allow Aaron to play through the middle, but he did that really well. I thought they worked really well together.”