Head coach Michael Beale was asked about our midfield during his recent press conference, and one topic of conversation was the contract of one of our most important players, Alex Pritchard.
POSITIVES OF A SMALLER GROUP
“Well there should be a lot of clarity because if we’ve got less players then the focus of those guys playing, the clarity and the relationship should be really strong. It’s important for me and my staff that we focus on the players that are here in front of us and get the best out of them, then anyone who comes in can add to that. Likewise, we don’t want to be waiting for somebody that doesn’t arrive.”
MATETE EASING MIDFIELD WORKLOAD
“It is a big ask, if you ask them (Bellingham, Neil and Ekwah) they just want to play. If you ask them, they’re living their best life if you want, they’re playing, they’re challenging themselves each week. Most weeks they’re excelling, so they won’t want a rest but certainly having Jay available and hopefully when we get there, Corry and Embleton coming back and young Matty (CHRIS!) Rigg, sorry got his name wrong there, Chris Rigg. When Rigg is back, Rigg has shown some really nice things but he’s 16, that’s the nature of our squad I think again, I go back to the three or four that we’ve lost. That’s not helpful at all, so hopefully the one who is closest to coming back in a couple of weeks will be Patrick and I think he’ll really help us as well because that frees up maybe Pritchard or Abdoullah to go and play inside as well.”
PRITCHARD CONTRACT
“Well look, Alex has been excellent since I’ve come in, that's fair to say. He missed the first couple of games but when he’s played, he’s played very well. His contract situation was ongoing before I came in, that’s between him and the club and at the moment he’s in our team and playing well so that’s my focus.”
