Liam Manning has admitted Elijah Morrison will have to be patient for his first-team opportunity at Bristol City but insists the young defender is making visible progress on the training ground.
The 18-year-old has been included in 16 of the Robins’ matchday squads so far this season, including being named on the bench in each of the Reds’ last three matches. However, the left-sided defender’s last first-team appearance came all the way back in November when he made a late cameo off of the bench against Sheffield United.
Some supporters expected to see Morrison feature more in recent weeks. With Cam Pring and Luke McNally sidelined whilst Haydon Roberts was pushed into a deeper role as part of City’s back three, the teenager felt to many like the natural fit at left-wing back. Instead, Ross McCrorie and Mark Sykes have been deployed on the left flank against Stoke City and Cardiff respectively.
Although Manning has insisted the pathway remains open for Morrison to force his way into the first team fold, he believes the 18-year-old must keep working hard and remain patient to climb above the senior players in the pecking order.
“Do you know what, I went to the Under-21s yesterday [Monday] and watched it and he’s progressing all the time Elijah,” Manning told Bristol Live in his pre-match press conference. “It’s an element of patience, he’s up against people in the team that have done well.
“I think when you look at it, I know we lost Pringy but at the same point we kind of got Ross back and when you look at the level Ross was at, he was doing terrifically well, the same as Haydon’s done well there previously. That’s the biggest bit I think, there will always be a pathway but you have to earn it. Your job is to go and knock the person out in front of you and again when I see Elijah now, he has good days, bad days and what happens when young players come across and that element of being patient.
“He’s consistently training well now so behind the scenes I get to see the progress he’s making, how he’s doing and he’s got to keep his head down and keep pushing because he’s of course someone that we like, someone who is getting better and I’m sure someone who will have a good future at the club.”
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Morrison is likely to be included in another Robins’ matchday squad this week when Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough make the trip to Ashton Gate on Friday evening. While Pring is in contention to return from injury, Ross McCrorie is set for another spell on the sidelines leaving Manning slightly short of defensive options again.
Boro currently sit 11th in the Championship table two points adrift of the Reds and four away from the play-offs, albeit with a game in hand on the majority of teams in the race for the top six. Although Carrick’s side have lost each of their last four games, Manning expects them to pose a serious challenge under the lights in BS3.
“The big bit is they’ve invested heavily, they’re a strong squad, they’re really well coached, really well organised and play some terrific football,” explained the City head coach. “But, I think we can as well. I think that’s the biggest bit where we have to be clear in terms of the form or whatever it is goes out of the window to a certain extent because Friday is another new opportunity for everybody.
“You have to take where you’re at mentally, where you’re at physically, you have to take the experiences we’ve had, you have to take the belief in each other and go into Friday’s game trying to do everything we can to win.”