Any young player that's not playing matches is being hindered in their development and I think it's idiotic to argue otherwise.
The only way to learn how to cope with the intensity and pressure of a match in front of thousands of fans is to play in matches. You cannot replicate that atmosphere on the training ground nor can you replicate all the opposition players someone might come up against.
While he will have definitely learnt a lot from being around the first team squad, playing competitive football is imperative to a players development.
A young player is never ready because part of the puzzle only comes from game time so managers have to take a chance on them.
The only way to learn how to cope with the intensity and pressure of a match in front of thousands of fans is to play in matches. You cannot replicate that atmosphere on the training ground nor can you replicate all the opposition players someone might come up against.
While he will have definitely learnt a lot from being around the first team squad, playing competitive football is imperative to a players development.
A young player is never ready because part of the puzzle only comes from game time so managers have to take a chance on them.