Fulham star Alex Iwobi has admitted that he’s been really impressed with youngster Luke Harris in training this season.
Alex Iwobi’s arrival from Everton last summer has been a real success, with the Nigerian international performing very well in several different roles under Marco Silva this season.
Alongside defender Calvin Bassey, Iwobi was bizarrely comparing his Fulham teammate to different parts of a Christmas dinner on the club’s YouTube channel.
Fulham have made a habit in recent years of developing some fantastic young talent and then failing to keep them at the club.
Ryan Sessegnon is the last academy product to have a prolonged stint with the senior team although his time at Tottenham hasn’t gone to plan.
Fans have watched Matt O’Riley and Harvey Elliott thrive away from Craven Cottage, while Fabio Carvalho has been linked with a return to Fulham given the disastrous first 18 months he’s spent at Liverpool.
The Portuguese did at least play a starring role for Fulham for a full Championship campaign, but he should have stuck around rather than heading to Anfield when his contract expires.
Luke Harris could be the next youngster to break through at Fulham and Alex Iwobi has suggested the 18-year-old is brilliant in training.
The Welsh Under-21 international has only featured once in the Premier League this season, coming off the bench against Manchester City.
He needs more senior minutes to continue his development and they might have to come away from the club in the second half of the season.
Iwobi raves about Harris in training
The pair were comparing players to part of a Christmas dinner and Iwobi commented on Harris: “He’s not always there, but when he is there, you like him.
“Especially in training, I like him, he’s hard in training, he’s very good in training.”
A report from The Athletic suggests that Harris was supposed to go on loan to Exeter in the summer, but the move collapsed.
They suggest it’s likely he leaves in January on loan which will be the best scenario for all parties as his first-team opportunities at Fulham are going to be limited unless there’s a serious injury crisis.
It’s encouraging that Iwobi and his teammates have been impressed with Harris in training.
If he can compete with the likes of Joao Palhinha and Willian behind the scenes, then it won’t be long until he’s ready to appear in the Premier League more regularly.
More importantly, Harris signed a contract extension in March that will see him stay at the club until 2026.
After watching so many talented players leave the club for next to no money, Fulham appear to have finally learned from their mistakes with the 18-year-old.