After making nine starts last season, Josh Coulson must have hoped that the sale of defenders Michael Morrison and Mark Albrighton would open the door for more, but so far this season the 19-year-old has been restricted to one appearance from the bench.

That appearance was against today's opponents Weymouth in August, when Dan Gleeson limped off injured and Coulson was pressed into action as an emergency right-back, and he has not featured since. But U's boss Gary Brabin thinks highly of the tall young defender and believes he is learning a lot from thirty-something pair Wayne Hatswell and Phil Bolland.

"Young Josh has been working really hard and he's been involved in the work leading up to games so he's chomping at the bit to play," confirmed the manager, who knows that with Hatswell and Bolland accruing yellow cards and closing in on automatic suspensions Coulson needs to be ready to step in.

"Since I've been at the club I've seen a big improvement in Josh," Brabin added.

"He's willing to learn and he's a good, honest kid and I think he's got a big future in the game. He can only benefit from playing games week in, week out, but at the same time he's learning so much from the experience of Phil Bolland and Wayne Hatswell.

"I was a centre-half myself so we're all trying to help him, and his honesty and his workrate in training is second to none.

"I really expect a big future for Josh. He's only a young lad at the moment and he's playing in a position where your mistakes get punished, and it would put a lot of pressure on him playing week in, week out, so I think it will benefit him more working with experienced players."

[Josh Coulson]

You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website, unless otherwise stated, is subject to copyright © and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source including all quotes.

AT081011