Harry Clout lauded as ‘fantastic’ amid contract challenge at Portsmouth
Portsmouth teenager Harry Clout has been lauded by Under-18 coach Sam Hudson after his encouraging start to the season.
Clout is currently averaging an assist every game for the U18 side and earned himself a place on the first-team bench for the Championship draws with both Luton Town and Middlesbrough.
The 17-year-old winger featured for John Mousinho’s side in pre-season, and with the absence of any U21 football or the EFL Trophy, Hudson credited Clout for his progress so far as he looks to earn a professional contract.
The youth manager told The News [12 September]: “So far he’s averaging an assist a game, which gives himself the chance to hopefully be considered in the future. He’s had a good start to the season and we’re going to really push him because, if he wants a contract, he needs to kick on.
“He’s always in the thick of every attack we have, even if it starts on the other side he will get involved at some point.
“Being involved in the first-team is fantastic, particularly a league bench because there’s no Bristol Street Motors Trophy anymore, which reduces a potential opportunity for some of our players to get involved in that. We’ll work hard every day to try to get players through to the first-team squad.”
Harry Clout is the latest promising Portsmouth starlet
From the limited amount fans have seen of Clout in a Portsmouth shirt, they are encouraged.
The teenager enjoyed a lively friendly bow against Havant & Waterlooville back in July, raising more than a few eyebrows, and is considered the closest of Pompey’s scholars to earning a professional contract.
The call-up by Mousinho will have done him the world of good in terms of confidence, which is beginning to benefit the U18 side who secured their first win last weekend, beating Cambridge United 3-0.
Hudson’s young side were beaten 3-1 in what will in the long-term be a beneficial test against senior players, when they faced Bashley in midweek in the Hampshire Senior Cup – Clout grabbed another assist on the night.
Without the bridge of an U21 side or the extra squad opportunities in the EFL Trophy since exiting League One, Clout is making the most of what he has.
In other Portsmouth news, a Southampton transfer admission from David Norris.
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