Club news

Hughton: Under-23 Work Has Been Outstanding

By Kieran Cleeves • 27 April 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton praised the work being done around the club’s under-23 side, ahead of their Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough at the Amex Stadium tonight.

The Seagulls sealed their place in the play-offs with a third-placed finish after 22 games, and Hughton highlighted the excellent work that takes place in the academy, while also commenting on the possibility of players heading out on loan.

He said, “It’s an exciting prospect at the moment. Credit to the work Simon Rusk and all of the academy have done for the under-23s, as it’s been outstanding.

“We’re quite close to a final that would see us elevated to the top league. With that being the case, the levels they would be playing at next season would be even greater.

“We'll have to make some decisions around that [sending players on loan], but I've been really pleased with the development of the under-23s.”

Aaron Connolly, James Tilley, Dessie Hutchinson, Jayson Molumby and Max Sanders have all been involved in Hughton’s first-team squad throughout the current season.

The Albion boss spoke about the opportunity Sanders captured early on in the season, before admitting he wouldn’t hesitate in including under-23 players in his first-team squad.

“Jayson Molumby was featuring in the first-team group, but he picked up an injury which then meant Max Sanders started playing more games at under-23 level.

“Because of that, he’s certainly risen, and we’ve had some really solid and outstanding players in the under-23s.

“I certainly wouldn't close my eyes to any of those players becoming very much part of the squad.

"There probably isn't one that I see breaking into our first team at the moment, but there are certainly ones that can be around the squad. We'll make all the decisions around that."