Young Guns Blog by John Jones. Lewis Clutton (Bristol Rovers) Lewis
is a young man who has been regularly and successfully involved in the
Bristol Rovers U-18 team since he started his tenure as a scholar with
the club at the start of last season. In December came news that he
sustained an injury during a game at that time with the indication that
it was of a serious nature. I apologize that I cannot provide any other
details than this, I have not been able to access any other news of his
welfare if any has been published. Representation for Wales teams has
occurred at schoolboy, U-17 and U-19 levels and so hopefully a recovery
to full and fruitful fitness will occur giving him the opportunity to
challenge as a candidate for national squad assignments in the future.
Wishing him well.
Reuben Duncan (Millwall) A second
year scholar at The Den, Reuben is a regular member the club’s U-18 team
both this and last season, chipping in with a reasonable share of goals
from his advanced midfield role. During this time he has also been
utilized in the matchday squads for the U-23 team from time to time.
Reuben has not been selected for a Wales squad in any age group but was
named on the standby list for the U-19 national squads that were
announced last season. He seems to be doing well in his youth career so
far and does have the possibility of a promising career ahead. Along
with the multitude of others who are in a similar situation it will be a
case of surviving the high attrition rate that all young players have
to contend with and then working diligently on his game to attain
continuous improvement. If all goes well we might well see Reuben’s name
published in a future Wales squad bulletin.
Kieron Evans (Cardiff City) Though
he played in a large portion of the Bluebirds U-18 team games last
season, Kieron is actually in his first year as a scholar with the club.
This season he has again been a regular member of the team although at
times his availability has been restricted through some injury issues.
Nevertheless, he has been impressive during his appearances, not only
influencing games with his pace and trickery, but also adding to this
with quite a good tally of goals to help the team in what has so far
been a season with them perched atop of their league. He has been
associated with the club since starting out with them during his days at
primary school and his ambition must be to eventually secure a place in
the senior team at his local club. When one views the credentials he
seems to be presenting so far, the chances of him achieving this goal
could certainly be a possibility. This would of course be a delightful
outcome for those of us who are fans, very pleased when Welsh players
have successful careers.Â
Jacob Jones (Swansea City) First
year scholar Jacob has been a regular member of the Swansea U-18 team
this season continuing on from having made more than a handful of
appearances for them last season as a schoolboy associate at the club.
That is not his only contribution to the Swansea cause, as he has also
been involved with the U-23 team during some of their games. Quite a
positive impression by someone who is very much at the start of being
employed in football on a full time basis. Although selected for
national training squads as a schoolboy, Jacob has not yet had
representative honours for Wales. A continuation in the fashion
performed in recent months could however quickly make such a fact
obsolete. He will I am sure be conscious of the need to continually
learn how to compete against increasingly difficult opponents along with
a determination to refine his skills to become successful. Adding those
assets to his game would surely see him selected for a national squad.
Ioan Richards (Cheltenham Town) This
season Ioan has amassed a good number of appearances for the Robin’s
U-18 team, a welcomed change of fortunes from his time as a first year
scholar at the club last season. An injury at that time, severely
restricted his availability for the team, this also delaying his
opportunity to develop his skills on a full time basis. Very much
considered a talented player by the staff at the club, his status as
captain of the U-18 team an indication of those sentiments. He has of
late, also been involved with the development team for older players at
the club, a necessary step for him to make on a full time basis, if he
is to continue his association with Cheltenham beyond the end of the
current season. I am sure he has been relieved to have been relatively
free from any injury issues of late, and hopefully the hard work he had
to endure to regain full fitness and thrive in the competition he has
been exposed to, can be rewarded with a developing career that will
eventually see him employed as a full time professional footballer.
Barney Soady (Bristol City) After
having made a couple of appearances along with some bench assignments
for the Bristol City U-18 team last season, Barney became eligible and
joined the scholar ranks at the club prior to the start of this one.
Over the last few months he has been utilized by the coaching staff not
only as a frequent starter at youth level but also quite a few for the
developmental team as well. Added to this are also a few substitute
appearances for the U-18’s as well as the U-23’s. It is an impressive
resume of achievement for a player who only celebrated his 17th birthday
during the latter part of 2017. This is further enhanced by the fact
that he is the recipient of a Wales cap, having played for the national
U-19 team when used as a substitute for the friendly match played
against the Republic of Ireland early in the season. Other than of
course the Welsh clubs, Bristol City has by far the most Welsh
youngsters affiliated to them, a group of promisingly talented players
of which Barney is the one highlighted this week.