Steve Bruce warns Taylor Gardner-Hickman after England U20 call-up for West Brom ace
Taylor Gardner-Hickman has been a huge breath of fresh air for West Brom recently and has inspired their sudden upturn in form in the Championship.
The 20-year-old has quickly developed a fruitful partnership in the Baggies midfield alongside club captain Jake Livermore and Alex Mowatt which has brought about seven points in their last three games.
His impressive performances at The Hawthorns ahs not only put a smile back on the faces of the fans but also earned him a call-up for the England Under-20s squad for next week’s internationals.
Albion boss Steve Bruce though has been quick to ensure Gardner-Hickman stays grounded after his rapid rise into the limelight.
“He is still a bit raw,” Bruce said, as quoted by the Express and Star. “When you put a young one in, you have to look at whether they can handle it. But he has had a really good fortnight, and I’m sure he will remember it.
“It’s important now that he keeps his feet on the ground and doesn’t get carried away.
“He needs to keep improving, but the type of kid he is, he wants to keep improving that’s for sure.
“When he walks through the door you can see his enthusiasm and the supporters have taken to him because he is one of them.”
Keep doing what you’re doing
Things couldn’t have gone much better for the 20-year-old over the last couple of weeks.
He was brought into the team after a run of poor results for the Baggies at the beginning of Bruce’s tenure as manager and he completely changed the feel of the team from his very first start.
Away at Hull City, his endless energy helped create plenty of chances away at Hull City on that day and in every game since he has shone brighter than any other player in navy blue and white.
Bruce is right though when he says the kid has to remain grounded because he has the ability to become a really top player if he does the right things.
This England Under-20s call-up is a great reward for him but he has to keep his head down if he wants more in the future.
In other West Brom news, Jeff Stelling has made his bold prediction for today’s game against Bristol City.
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