Taylor Gardner-Hickman is on loan from Bristol City and is vying for a starting spot against Stoke City in his preferred position in midfield. However, according to Curtis Fleming, Bristol City has only just begun to explore his potential.
The 21-year-old was effectively brought in as a last-minute replacement for Ross McCrorie, who underwent surgery last week for a viral infection that will keep him out until 2024. Garner-Hickman was the Robins’ sixth and final summer acquisition.
Since joining City on loan from West Brom with the intention of making it a permanent £1.3 million deal at the conclusion of the season, Gardner-Hickman has made four appearances: one starting and three coming off the bench. Two of those four games were played at right-back while the other two were in midfield.
The 23-year-old’s return to the team and upturn in form have meant Gardner-Hickman’s last two appearances have offered a means of relief in the closing stages of games for central midfielders Jason Knight and Joe Williams. Gardner-Hickman started at Swansea in place of George Tanner on the right side of the defense.
The Under-21s defeated Ipswich Town 2-0 on Monday, and Gardner-Hickman played just over 60 minutes for them. He once again lined up in midfield and served as a sort of holding player for the central-left side, with Tommy Backwell to the right. He was able to be evaluated in that position again during the game, and he also improved his match fitness.
On Saturday, Nigel Pearson might start the same lineup against Stoke City, but if there is one change that might be taken into account, it would be Gardner-Hickman vying with Joe Williams for the No. 8 position.
Gardner-Hickman has made four appearances since joining City on loan from West Brom with the goal of making it a permanent £1.3 million deal at the end of the season. One of those appearances was as a starter, and the other three were as a substitute. In two of those four games, right-back was the position played; the other two were played in midfield.
Gardner-Hickman’s last two appearances have given central midfielders Jason Knight and Joe Williams some relief in the closing minutes of games due to the 23-year-old’s return to the squad and improvement in form. At Swansea, Gardner-Hickman began in George Tanner’s place on the right side of the defense.
He isn’t the finished product, in my opinion, Fleming remarked. “We brought in a young kid who is still developing.
He can play multiple positions, which is vital to the way we operate because we don’t have a large squad, as we said when he first arrived. We have players who can play a variety of positions and are content and at ease doing so.
“I believe that midfield is likely his preferred position, and I believe you have seen why: he has excellent ball handling and passing range. But we still haven’t seen him in shape, do we? The player with the bangs and Saturday-Tuesday schedule who has played in six or seven league games has not been seen by us.
“We’re pleased with what we see, but he shouldn’t be complacent, and we won’t either; he needs to improve, and he will improve. Watch his progress over the next year or two.
However, he has arrived and is a fantastic asset to the community, which is crucial to us. When Nige is signing people, their personalities are crucial.
That’s most likely one of the key inquiries. We have a pretty excellent dressing room, and Nige is happy with that. It took him some time to get precisely where he wants to be, but we’ve got there. The ability may be wonderful, but you’ve got to have that attitude to come in and want to work, and get along with the players.
So, we’re very pleased with him, and now we’ll just wait and watch how he develops.
Gardner-Hickman, together with Haydon Roberts, Anis Mehmeti, and Ephraim Yeboah, who is obviously only 17 but has been a very consistent part of the senior set-up this season, were four first-team players in that Under-21 line-up as they defeated Ipswich at Ashton Gate.
Fleming claims that all four were eager to play in order to maintain and improve their match fitness and make sure they were in top form for the Potters’ arrival this coming weekend.
“They want to play,” Fleming continued. Taylor hasn’t played in many games while at West Brom, but he’s come to us and played in a few, which is fine, but it simply keeps the guys going. Training is great, but then you have to play a difficult game against Ipswich at Ashton Gate in an uncontrolled situation.
But isn’t it a wonderful pitch, too? You must go play; that is why we are paid.
