[h=3]Poyet has faith in Albion's young guns[/h]9:00am Tuesday 9th April 2013 in Albion By Andy Naylor
George Barker is one of a number of young players pushing for a place in Guy Poyet's plans
Gus Poyet*has no fears about throwing his young back-up players into the heat of Albion’s play-off challenge.
The manager showed the faith he has in them by using rookie striker George Barker at a crucial stage of Saturday’s game against promotion rivals Leicester at The Amex.
Barker, 21, made his home debut as a 79th-minute substitute for Andrea Orlandi, with the Seagulls 1-0 down, as they snatched a vital point late-on through Kazenga LuaLua.
Poyet said: “We gave one of the biggest chances you can remember in football to a young boy to be involved in these kind of games.
“I don’t know how many times this opportunity for George Barker happened at this football club in the past in the situation we are in, not being 14th or 15th in the league with nothing to play for, so we are not afraid of playing our best players and it doesn’t matter if you are 18, 19 or 32.”
More opportunities beckon for Barker, with Leo Ulloa the only senior striker currently available.
Jake Forster-Caskey, Toby Agdestein and Solly March could also all come into contention during the remainder of the run-in, with Poyet’s squad depleted by injuries and the long-term suspension of Ashley Barnes.
Poyet fears the situation is taking its toll on Ulloa, who missed an opportunity to put Albion ahead just before Leicester took the lead.
He said: “There is no doubt we deserved a point. There was one team trying to really attack and be in the other half.
“We had a very good chance before with Ulloa but Leo is paying the price of paying all the time for 90 minutes. We cannot rest him.”
Find out about the player who is available for Albion's play-off push despite serving a ban in The Argus today
Original article
Gus Poyet*has no fears about throwing his young back-up players into the heat of Albion’s play-off challenge.
The manager showed the faith he has in them by using rookie striker George Barker at a crucial stage of Saturday’s game against promotion rivals Leicester at The Amex.
Barker, 21, made his home debut as a 79th-minute substitute for Andrea Orlandi, with the Seagulls 1-0 down, as they snatched a vital point late-on through Kazenga LuaLua.
Poyet said: “We gave one of the biggest chances you can remember in football to a young boy to be involved in these kind of games.
“I don’t know how many times this opportunity for George Barker happened at this football club in the past in the situation we are in, not being 14th or 15th in the league with nothing to play for, so we are not afraid of playing our best players and it doesn’t matter if you are 18, 19 or 32.”
More opportunities beckon for Barker, with Leo Ulloa the only senior striker currently available.
Jake Forster-Caskey, Toby Agdestein and Solly March could also all come into contention during the remainder of the run-in, with Poyet’s squad depleted by injuries and the long-term suspension of Ashley Barnes.
Poyet fears the situation is taking its toll on Ulloa, who missed an opportunity to put Albion ahead just before Leicester took the lead.
He said: “There is no doubt we deserved a point. There was one team trying to really attack and be in the other half.
“We had a very good chance before with Ulloa but Leo is paying the price of paying all the time for 90 minutes. We cannot rest him.”
Find out about the player who is available for Albion's play-off push despite serving a ban in The Argus today
Original article