Hodges is impressed by young striker's progress
ACADEMY manager Kevin Hodges has praised the development of Plymouth Argyle's 17-year-old striker Tyler Harvey.
Hodges described the Pilgrims' apprentice as 'a very good prospect' but insisted he still had a lot of work ahead of him to fulfil his potential.
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Harvey (right) has scored 10 goals in all games this season, including the first two in Argyle's 3-0 victory over Exeter City in a FA Youth Cup first round tie at Home Park last Wednesday.
His form has led to scouts from Premier League clubs taking an interest in the progress of the young Plymothian.
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Harvey started a two-year apprenticeship with Argyle in July 2011 after progressing through the club's centre of excellence.
He has already agreed to sign on as a professional next summer.
Hodges told Herald Sport: "When we took him in at the start of last season there were a few little question marks.
"We saw the ability Tyler has and, I have to say, over the last 12 months he has gone up a number of levels.
"He's now scoring goals regularly in the youth team, and he came on and got one for the reserves the other week, so he's full of confidence. That's what you look for.
"The thing is he has got to find that level of consistency to keep that going. I see him as a very good prospect, but he has still got a lot of work to do."
Both of Harvey's goals against Exeter were good examples of a striker reacting to situations before anyone else.
For his first one, Harvey had an initial shot blocked but followed up to tap in the loose ball from almost on the line.
His second goal came when Exeter 'keeper Christy Pym spilled a 25-yard drive from midfielder River Allen and Harvey darted in to apply the finish from close range.
Hodges said: "Not many people have the anticipation and the reaction in those types of situation in a game.
"Some players just stand and watch. The rebounding aspect is something we try to stress within our training sessions.
"We encourage the lads to anticipate things like that, and Tyler did very well against Exeter.
"It's the sign of a good striker. If you have reactions like that then your tally will soon go up during the course of a season. Tyler is in a rich vein of form at the moment and we want that to continue."
ARGYLE'S St Luke's Challenge Cup second round tie away to Ivybridge, scheduled to be played last night, was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Erme Valley. No new date has been arranged.
Comments
by spectator1
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 6:12PM
“Looks can be deceiving,hope they are because he does not look ready for the roughhouse tactics of the league two division.Saying that a lot experts thought that about many young strikers like Messi and Owen.”
by cooperman23
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 9:13AM
“keet it up ty , put him in the first team he puts that lot to shame. he scored more already than that lot of so called strikers will between them all season !”