Bristol City head coach Liam Manning has admitted he would love to bring West Ham United loanee George Earthy back to the club next season.
The 20-year-old joined the Robins on a season long loan last summer as the Hammers looked to give the youngster his first taste of regular first team football. The attacking midfielder hit the headlines last May when he scored his first goal for his boyhood club in a 3-1 win over Luton Town.
He had to be patient upon his arrival at Ashton Gate. The England under-21 international found himself on the fringes of the squad during the early stages of the campaign. He didn’t make his first league start until November but announced himself to the City faithful in style in February when he came off the bench to bag two late goals in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Earthy has started the last three games, putting in a trio of Player of the Match performances. This has helped Liam Manning’s side edge closer to a Championship play-off place. With four games remaining, they currently sit fifth, four points above seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion.
Manning Makes Earthy Admission
Speaking after their 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, where Earthy netted his third of the season, Manning was full of praise for the attacker:
“I think George has been outstanding for us. You look at a lot of players, especially young lads going on first loans from Premier League teams, they don’t always go that great. I think it speaks volumes about him and his character.”
Continuing, the former Oxford United boss was asked if he would like to bring the player back to Ashton Gate next season:
“Who knows? I’d love to.
“I think he’s great, I think he fits the profile, I think he’s developing, he’s getting better, he’s got an exciting future ahead of him, suits how we play and what we want to do. But they’re discussions that happen behind the scenes.”
Writer’s View
Earthy’s stint at Bristol City has been a huge success and is a testament to what hard work can do. It would have been easy for him to give up when he was on the fringes of the squad and return to West Ham in January, but he has knuckled down to show that he is an excellent prospect for the future. Another season at the Robins could be a win for all parties, especially if they find a way through the play-offs into the Premier League.
