Hull City youngster Xavier Simons has new boss amid surprising start to life at Fleetwood Town
The City midfielder joined the Highbury club on deadline day for the season
Hull City youngster Xavier Simons can look forward to working under a manager keen to promote youth at Fleetwood Town, according to Lee Johnson.
Johnson was appointed at Highbury on Sunday just two weeks after being sacked by Scottish Premiership side Hibernian, replacing former Celtic star Scott Brown.
Brown signed Simons on a season-long loan from City on deadline day, but before the Tigers youngster had chance to link up with the Cod Army boss, he was dismissed after a poor start to the season.
Simons then made his debut under the caretaker charge of Matt Lawlor on Tuesday night, delivering a promising display in a 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy, and will hope to catch the eye of Johnson in training before the Fylde Coast side’s next outing at home to Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.
“When any new manager comes in, everyone gets a fresh slate, and players are often revived and lifted based on the opportunity to impress somebody new. They will all get the opportunity to do that here, but it’s already a good club. The squad are good, I’ve watched all the games, they’ve been unlucky in a few, and short in others, but there are signs there,” Johnson said.
You want to make your own stamp from day one, but you also have to let the players flourish to play their natural games in the formation you want to play in and that’s the beauty and enjoyment factor of coaching. You get to see this on the grass, not just with their abilities, but also with their attitudes and ability to learn.
“There are a lot of young players at this football club, aged between 18 and 25, and I think that’s a good thing because they are impressionable, I’m used to working with players in that range, trying to develop them not only to perform for Fleetwood, but also making them the players they need to be to move on.”
