Academy scholar looking forward to Saturday’s game at PPG Canalside
- Under-17 striker Kian Harratt speaks to htafc.com
- Forward enjoying life at Huddersfield Town
- 16-year-old looks ahead to Saturday's game at PPG Canalside
Strikers love scoring goals, regardless of what level they play at – and Under-17 forward Kian Harratt is no different!
The 16-year-old forward joined the Town Academy from Barnsley this summer as part of Leigh Bromby’s new-look Under-17 side and netted his first competitive goals for the Club in an impressive midweek performance at Burnley in the Clarets Cup.
As for most of the Young Terriers, life at Town has been a big change for the Hemsworth native – but he’s loving day-to-day life at PPG Canalside
“It’s brilliant; I’ve really enjoyed it so far,” Kian told htafc.com ahead of training on Friday morning.
“I was with Barnsley from being 10 years old until this summer, so it’s been a big change for me, but I really like the coaching here. I really like working with Leigh Bromby and I like the group of lads we have here too.”
After the well-publicised change to Town’s Academy system this year, the dynamic of the Under-17 players have changed, with players recruited from across the country; many from junior clubs as opposed to other Academies.
The current group hadn’t met each other until the first day of pre-season, but Kian explained that gelling the group together has not been a problem.
“The players who haven’t been at an Academy before have come here and fit in straight away. I think that’s down to their characters; we’ve got some great lads here.
“It was a challenge for us at the start of the season, but I think you can see that it’s coming together (on the pitch) now. In the Burnley game earlier this week, I think you could see improvement out on the pitch.”
In Youth Alliance games, where the Under-17s regularly play against older players, Bromby has worked on applying specific things the youngsters have learned about the ‘Terriers Identity’ out on the pitch. However, the focus was on performing at Burnley in midweek when Town played a fellow Under-17 side.
📹 Watch #htafc's Under-17 goals as @LeighBromby's #YoungTerriers got off to a winning start in the 'Clarets Cup'.
— HTAFC Academy (@htafcacademy) September 5, 2018
⚽️ Two good finishes from @KianHarratt
🔥 A goal of the season contender from @JHeadleyOne (AT) pic.twitter.com/sIWXsbBiqg
“It’s the first game where we’ve been asked to focus on winning and it was a good feeling to get the result,” Kian admitted.
“I was buzzing, although I could have had a hat-trick! It’s nice to get my first goals for my new club.
“It was a bit different at Barnsley as we played a more direct style; it’s more tactical here. There’s a lot more to do for me, but I like it.
“I’ve been working a lot of the timing of my runs into the box and finishing once I get there. I also feel like my hold-up and link-up play has got a lot better already.
“We’ve also been working on our ‘fight zones’, which I know the First Team uses when defending; that’s new to me. I’m enjoying it! I’ve got to lead the pressing from the front and everyone must know what their job is.”
The focus will be back on player development when Notts County’s Under-18s visit PPG Canalside for an 11.30am kick-off in the Youth Alliance, but like any good striker Kian wants to grab further goals if possible!
“I’m really looking forward to Saturday; hopefully I can get some more goals.
“The teams we’ve played in the Youth Alliance are quite physical and fight for everything, so we have to want it at least as much as them to get anything.”
You can watch Saturday’s game for free on the pitch over the canal at PPG Canalside this Saturday, so why not come down and support the Young Terriers during the international break?
