LUKE HARRIS already has the experience and ‘grounding’ to make a mark for Wales’ senior squad, according to the Fulham scout who has overseen the Jersey teenager’s rise through the ranks.
Malcolm Elias, head of talent ID and recruitment at Fulham FC, believes recent exposure to Premier League football will serve the 17-year-old well as he prepares to join up with Robert Page’s national team for the first time – as will the wealth of success he has enjoyed at age-group level for his country.
Harris, who scored a hat-trick for Fulham under-23s against Chelsea last month and a brace for the U21s against Hull City on Wednesday, has sat on the bench in four of the club’s six Premier League fixtures this season.
The Jersey FA Centre of Excellence product could play for any one of the Home Nations as a Jerseyborn footballer, but has pledged his future to Wales in recognition of strong family ties. He could make his senior debut against Belgium or Poland next week.
‘The Welsh FA coaches who have worked with Luke have the highest regard for him,’ said Elias. ‘They are regularly represented at Luke’s club games.
‘They’ve taken him to several tournaments [at U17, U18 and U19 levels] and seen how he copes and compares internationally with players from other countries, and it is their belief and our belief that he has an excellent future.’
He added: ‘The fact that he’s training with our first team, with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic; he’s getting that daily experience and he’s had matchday experience, albeit on the bench. Being in the dressing room … those things can only stand him in good stead and he’s playing in our U23s too, which involves playing with and against first-team players. It’s a big challenge to go from being an U23 club player to playing for your country against Belgium, but he’s had a good grounding for hopefully what is to come.
‘Whether Luke gets game time or not, just the experience of being in the squad, alongside players like Gareth Bale, is great in itself.’
Elias was also keen to re-emphasise the contribution that Jersey’s football community has made.
‘Obviously the early stage of his football career was in Jersey and he was really fortunate,’ he said. ‘He was the youngest boy ever that they took into the [JFA] Centre of Excellence. They broke the mould. Before he went in there the youngest they took was U12, whereas he went in when he was ten.
‘They recognised his potential and gave him that extra training at an earlier age than he could have expected. He stayed with the Centre until he was 14, when he signed for us.
‘I don’t think anyone should ever underestimate the good work that goes on in Jersey. When our staff come back from visits there they’re always complimentary about what goes on.’
Wales travel to Nations League rivals Belgium – who have another Jerseyman among them, in performance analyst Luke Benstead – on 22 September, before hosting Poland at Cardiff City Stadium on 25 September.
Graeme Le Saux was the last Jerseyman to make a senior international appearance – for England in October 2000.
