Euro 2020: Brighton academy boss backs Ben White to shine for England

By Derren Howard
Published 10th Jun 2021, 14:35 BST
Updated 11th Jun 2021, 12:44 BST
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Brighton academy boss John Morling has no doubt Ben White has the temperament to perform on the big stage.

White, who joined the Albion academy aged 16, made 36 Premier League appearances for Graham Potter’s first team this season.

He progressed through the youth ranks and also had loan spells at Peterborough, Newport and Leeds. White, 23, made an accomplished debut for England against Austria as a second half substitute last week and followed that with an excellent defensive display as he played the full 90 against Romania.

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“It looks like he has been there for a long while. That’s how he is as a person,” said Morling. “He isn’t fazed by anything – or he appears not to be. In order to play how we want to play, you can’t be fearful of having the ball. He can’t be fearful of making mistakes.

Ben White, 23, made his England debut against Austria last week and joined the Brighton academy aged 16Ben White, 23, made his England debut against Austria last week and joined the Brighton academy aged 16
Ben White, 23, made his England debut against Austria last week and joined the Brighton academy aged 16

"You want players to always be on it, you want players to make things happen.

“We’ve got to make sure every age group is as strong as possible, so the Ben Whites and Robert Sanchezs of the future get the best opportunity to fulfil their potential.”

Too handsome

Ian Wright described Ben White as “too handsome” to be a centre half but the Albion man certainly knows about uglier side of the game as well.