Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris has admitted that striker Ryan Loft is still adapting to life at the club but remains confident in his ability to make an impact.
Loft, who joined from Port Vale in the summer for an undisclosed fee, has struggled to find his best form, scoring just twice in 25 appearances across all competitions. A pre-season injury hampered his early progress, and Harris acknowledges there is still work to be done.
Helping Loft Find His Form
As a former centre-forward himself, Harris believes he can help Loft refine his game while also calling on the team to provide better service to the ex-Tottenham Hotspur trainee.
“Ryan would like to have scored a few more goals for the football club, of course he would,” Harris said.
“He’s a centre-forward that comes with good pedigree as a youngster, coming out of Spurs’ academy.
“The potential is in there and it’s down to us to get the best out of him. This club has always utilised powerful number nines who can score goals, run, compete, and hold up play.”
Harris stressed that Cambridge must improve their attacking play to make the most of Loft’s strengths.
“To get the best out of Lofty, you’ve got to play quickly up to him and then compete – and you’ve certainly got to get balls in the box, whether that’s from crosses or set-pieces,” he explained.
“At Crawley, we put a couple of great balls into the box where he got good contact. One went out for a goal kick, and the second one he should have scored.”
Late Fitness Decision for Wigan Trip
Loft’s participation in Saturday’s trip to Wigan Athletic remains in doubt after he was forced off at half-time against Stevenage with back and hamstring concerns.
“It’s his back and hamstring. He’s not been on the training pitch today and we’ll have to see how he goes towards the weekend – it will be a late decision,” Harris revealed.
“He felt it stretching for a ball early on. He played on and got to half-time, but at half-time he was worried about it, so we made the simple decision to take him off.”
“If Lofty makes it, great – he’ll be in the 18 to travel. If not, other players will have to step up.”
Writer’s View
Loft’s struggles at Cambridge are understandable given his disrupted start, but Harris’ faith in him suggests he still has a big role to play. The challenge for both player and manager is to unlock his full potential before the season reaches its critical stages. With relegation looming, finding a way to make the most of Loft’s physicality and presence in the box could be crucial to Cambridge’s fortunes.
