Things looking up for two young players
I’ve been reading this week how well two young footballers, both of whom were in our development squad last season, are doing. One of them Josh Ginnelly is still with the Clarets but currently out on loan at Walsall while the other is Brandon Wilson who returned home to Perth in Australia having been released last season.
Ginnelly, signed from Shrewsbury in the summer of 2015, had some involvement with the first team during pre-season and scored the winner in the 2-1 victory at the Macron Stadium against Bolton Wanderers. To gain further experience he moved to Walsall on a season long loan.
For a while he struggled to make an impact but recently, after three good performances, he was singled out for praise by manager Jon Whitney. This week the 19-year-old has spoken to the Express & Star about how things are going for him.
“I feel there is still a lot more to come from me,” he said. “I have been pleased with our I’ve been doing recently but, with more playing time, hopefully I will get better and better. I’m quite an honest player and I will work hard for the team, but I want to bring more individual skill and make things happen.
“From a young age, I’ve always wanted to practice my free kicks and corners, but I also want to get goals into my game and to start taking some of the chances I have had. As long as I am getting into the right positions, then I’m sure some goals will come. I’d like to think I can add goals which would help the strikers out.”
Speaking about the early part of the season when he wasn’t always making the bench, let alone the starting line up, he added: “It’s frustrating for any player when you’re not playing. All I want to do is play football and when it wasn’t going my way, it was hard.
“But you’ve got to keep your standards and keep your match fitness so that you’re ready to take your chance if called upon. If you’re not ready then it would set you back even more. It was frustrating not playing but I dug deep and finally got back into the team. I worked hard every day to try to impress the gaffer. It was an experience you go through and I’m starting to get the rewards for my hard work now.”
Over in Australia, things are also going really well for Brandon Wilson, one of four former Burnley players now with Perth Glory. Born in Botswana, he moved to Perth at the age of ten and is now settled back home after three seasons at Turf Moor.
He’s been in outstanding form and turned in a match winning performance last week when he filled in at right back, earning a place in the A-League Team of the Week for the first time.
“I was taken by surprise with the first start,” he said after going into the first team for who he’s now played seven times. “I really worked hard in pre-season, but I loved the opportunity and hopefully will keep getting some more. I’m loving it, I’m loving every minute of it. Hopefully I keep getting some more opportunities and keep showing what I’m made of.”
Wilson has a very good relationship with Glory’s head coach Kenny Lowe who he worked with before his move to Burnley. “Even in the UK when I was playing he helped me out a lot. It’s been good, especially coming back here having a coach that I know and helped a lot.”
Wilson, who made that right back appearance in a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Victory, has also given praise to some of his team mates who have been a great help, including former Burnley loan player Rhys Williams.
Now he’ll be hoping to keep his place in the team despite regular right bakc John Risdon ready to return after injury. Wilson said: “If I don’t start, and I’m on the bench, then I’ll put my hand up and keep working hard and hopefully getting back in the team as soon as possible.”
While at Burnley, Wilson, also aged 19, spent a short time on loan with Stockport, playing seven games for them and scoring once. I have to say I was surprised to see Perth Glory referring to him as a former Stockport County player.
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