Academy scholar reflects on season ahead of Saturday’s Youth Alliance game
- Under-17 midfielder Tom Bell speaks to htafc.com
- Bell previews Saturday’s Youth Alliance game against Scunthorpe
- Midfielder speaks about Coach Dean Whitehead
Tom Bell believes that the Under-17s are starting to grow in confidence having overcome the challenges of playing against teams from an older age group.
The Under-17s welcome Scunthorpe to PPG Canalside on Saturday morning, just 48 hours after a 2-1 win in a behind-closed-doors game at Leicester City.
“Yesterday’s game was good” explained the midfielder
“It was a good experience to play against Premier League clubs that are our own age. I felt like we dealt with it well and I’m feeling good about it.”
“It’s been difficult playing against the older sides as you can see from the results, but I think we’re getting better each week.
“I feel like we’re developing better as players which is obviously benefitting us strength-wise. But it has been quite difficult so far.
“The older teams like to bully us off the ball, and our strength is on the ball, so I think that’s what we have been struggling with. But we’re training a lot, every day to try and improve our response to the more aggressive sides.”
The 17-year-old speaks highly of newly transitioned manager Dean Whitehead, feeling the benefits of learning from a Coach with a colourful career including Premier League experience in the same position.
“Dean is brilliant. He’s a great Coach, he’s settled in well and has made the squad feel a bit more like a team.
“As a team we seem to have settled down really well now, we’ve definitely gelled a lot more and got a lot closer.”
But on a more personal note, Whitehead has given Bell some very sturdy advice regarding his position in the side:
“He’s reassured me about my position because I was debating whether I was a 6 or an 8.
“He talked me through that and gives me a lot of advice on how to play my game. He was a Premier League player and has been really good at that sort of stuff.”
You’ll be able to watch Tom Bell and his teammates in action tomorrow when Scunthorpe United visit PPG Canalside for the Youth Alliance game that kicks off at 11am.
