[h=3]Jones confident Bridcutt is peaking at right time for big kick-off[/h]8:00am Thursday 25th July 2013 in Albion By Andy Naylor
Liam Bridcutt in action last night
ALBION’s assistant head coach Nathan Jones believes key man Liam Bridcutt is coming to the boil for the big kick-off.
Defensive midfielder Bridcutt made his second pre-season appearance since ankle surgery as part of a flurry of second half substitutions in last night’s 2-0 friendly win at Crawley.
Jones reckons the Scottish international is peaking nicely for the Seagulls’ Championship opener at Leeds on Saturday week.
He said: “Liam’s a big player for us. He has been doing fantastically well. We missed him when he was out, we missed him in training. When he trained yesterday (Tuesday) he was right back at it.
“You could see he had stepped up a level really from what he had been in pre-season even, so it’s good to have him back and he is peaking at the right time, because he is very important to how we play.”
Jones has also urged Albion’s youngsters to continue pressing their claims after striker George Barker opened the scoring in their fourth friendly win out of four at the Broadfield Stadium.
He said: "George has been looking quite lively in training. A few of the youngsters now need to step up as well, because we want the development squad to produce a few players and push the players we’ve got.
"We’ve got a strong squad, we are looking to add, but it’s good for young players like Georgie and (Jake) Forster-Caskey to show they might be ready."
Meanwhile, the turnover of backroom staff continues after the change in Albion's managerial team. Goalkeeping coach Andy Beasley has left and so too has opposition team analyst Adie Cooper.
Beasley worked with Poyet at both Swindon and Leeds before replacing Tony Godden at Albion 13 months ago.
Ruben Martinez, one of the assistants Oscar brought with him from Maccabi Tel Aviv, has expertise in that field. He worked with the keepers at Crawley last night.
Original article
ALBION’s assistant head coach Nathan Jones believes key man Liam Bridcutt is coming to the boil for the big kick-off.
Defensive midfielder Bridcutt made his second pre-season appearance since ankle surgery as part of a flurry of second half substitutions in last night’s 2-0 friendly win at Crawley.
Jones reckons the Scottish international is peaking nicely for the Seagulls’ Championship opener at Leeds on Saturday week.
He said: “Liam’s a big player for us. He has been doing fantastically well. We missed him when he was out, we missed him in training. When he trained yesterday (Tuesday) he was right back at it.
“You could see he had stepped up a level really from what he had been in pre-season even, so it’s good to have him back and he is peaking at the right time, because he is very important to how we play.”
Jones has also urged Albion’s youngsters to continue pressing their claims after striker George Barker opened the scoring in their fourth friendly win out of four at the Broadfield Stadium.
He said: "George has been looking quite lively in training. A few of the youngsters now need to step up as well, because we want the development squad to produce a few players and push the players we’ve got.
"We’ve got a strong squad, we are looking to add, but it’s good for young players like Georgie and (Jake) Forster-Caskey to show they might be ready."
Meanwhile, the turnover of backroom staff continues after the change in Albion's managerial team. Goalkeeping coach Andy Beasley has left and so too has opposition team analyst Adie Cooper.
Beasley worked with Poyet at both Swindon and Leeds before replacing Tony Godden at Albion 13 months ago.
Ruben Martinez, one of the assistants Oscar brought with him from Maccabi Tel Aviv, has expertise in that field. He worked with the keepers at Crawley last night.
Original article