The man in charge of Brighton’s development squad, Luke Williams, says the Club’s young players will benefit from every experience they have in the first team.
Current 2nd Year Apprentice Jake Forster-Caskey is the most prominent of the current crop of young players to make the step up to the first team.
Williams told BBC Sussex: “The sooner players can be blooded into the first team environment, the better.”
“You take the positives from every situation. If they thrive in the atmosphere, it gives the manager something to think about.”
“Jake has played a few times now,” Williams said. “It’s a dream come true for him, but all of us at the Club knew he had the ability to stay calm on the big stage.”
The 17-year-old made his debut for the Seagulls in May 2010 but has impressed this year after being thrust into the starting line-up to help Albion through their injury and suspension problems.
“I think Jake’s outgrown me a little bit, and it’s now the job of the first team staff to keep him grounded. But he’s very strong-willed and that helps him to be very confident in himself.”
Williams says the Seagulls style of play allied to work being conducted off the pitch with the development of a new training ground and academy offers should provide make the club an attractive proposition for aspiring young players.
“It’s always a battle to try and get hold of the best players you possibly can but the club is moving forward in terms of recruitment.”
“Players are attracted to the Club because of the style of football and the management. What we lack maybe in financial status we make up some of that shortfall in the quality of the work we do.”
