B Team Coach discusses the Club’s latest international player
- Jon Worthington discusses Brodie Spencer’s international debut
- B Team defender played for Northern Ireland in UEFA Nations League
- Worthy: “his attitude is his biggest strength”
B Team Coach Jon Worthington believes Brodie Spencer’s senior Northern Ireland debut is just the start for the promising 18-year-old.
In making his debut as a substitute for the final 25 minutes of the UEFA Nations League draw in Cyprus last week, Brodie became the 10th Town player to play for the Green and White Army – and is the first Town player ever in our 114-year history to make his senior international debut before playing for our First Team!
Former club captain Worthy has worked with the Shankill native as much as anyone since he moved to Huddersfield in the summer of 2020 and knows about the skillset that he offers.
“I’m absolutely delighted for him,” Jon told htafc.com.
“From the first day he came into the building, we were all pretty excited about his potential. He’s got fantastic physical attributes for someone of such a young age, and he matches that with a great character. He wants to learn, develop, and improve, so he’s been really easy to work with over the past two years.
“Technically and tactically, he has really come on (in the last two years). He’s got a really good understanding of the multiple positions he can play, from right centre back to right back and right wing back. He has a good understanding of every role in and out of possession.
“Technically, he has improved loads. He has done lots of individual work, as our programme is always designed around the individual – something he has really embraced.”
Spencer largely plays on the right side of defence for the B Team but made his international debut at left back. He earned praise for his performance from Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough after the game – something that didn’t surprise Jon.
🎥 Ian Baraclough reacts to our 0-0 draw in Cyprus 👇🏻 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/k0WWxZkMet
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 5, 2022
Jon continued: “It shows his adaptability and his game understanding, which I think we have played a big part in developing with him. It also shows Brodie’s level-headedness at such a young age – to go on in an unfamiliar position and still look comfortable.”
Despite this milestone, Worthy knows that Brodie will not get ahead of himself – and will return to Canalside hungrier than ever.
“His attitude is probably his biggest strength. He’s very humble – you see that every day around the building and on the training pitch every day. He also has a real desire to improve.
“I’ve spoken to him, and he knows it is a fantastic achievement, but that it’s only the start. The hard yards will come when he returns to Canalside for pre-season!”
Brodie’s next big challenge is to eventually break into our First Team – not an easy task with the likes of Pipa and Ollie Turton ahead of him.
Jon explained: “It is testament to our First Team squad, and the level they have performed at. It’s not just at right back – people are fighting for starting positions all over the pitch. The B Team players must compete for those positions too.
“We have a really good structure at the Club. Leigh Bromby and Carlos Corberán open pathways for the players. The B Team players get to go up against the senior players in training, which allows them to see where they need to get to. That takes a lot of hard work from the players and the staff.”
Brodie’s international debut is the latest in a string of successes for the B Team, ranging from the work with Sorba Thomas to prepare him for the 2021/22 campaign to Jon Russell’s emergence. More recently, the likes of Loick Ayina, Etienne Camara and Pat Jones trained with the senior squad throughout the Play-Off campaign. Worthy is rightly proud of that, believing it is the result of hard work from many people.
“It’s a collective effort from every member of staff across the Club. We’re really pleased and excited about the talent we have in the B Team, and it’s up to us to do all we can to give those players the best opportunity to take advantage of the paths created for them.”
