Huddersfield Town boss Mark Robins reckons there is plenty more to come from Duane Holmes – and other up-and-coming Town players.
But the manager insists he will tread carefully as he works to balance getting Championship points on the board with giving youth its head.
Eighteen-year-old Holmes is the name on every Town supporter’s lips after he made bright appearances from the bench in the club’s last two games, at Hull in the Capital One Cup and at home to Blackpool in the league.
But Robins refused to be drawn on whether the midfielder, who was born in the USA but raised in Wakefield, will feature even more prominently at Middlesbrough tomorrow.
“Duane helped change the game for us against Blackpool,” said Robins, whose side hit back for a 1-1 draw on Friday after a poor first-half display.
“He found space really well and we managed to get the ball to him, and it was good to see him have such an impact.
“We have a number of players showing promise in our academy and Under 21 squads, and if they are good enough we have to give them a chance.
“But we also have a responsibility to nurture them and manage their development carefully, and we will continue to bring Duane, and others, on at the right pace.”
Holmes, who joined Town at nine and is contracted to 2015 with a club option on a further year, scored 16 goals for the Under 18s last season and also broke into the Under 21 side.
This season, he has featured in all four development games so far, and scored twice for Steve Eyre’s Under 21s, who go to Coventry on Friday.
