It would perhaps be fair to say that George Earthy’s move from West Ham United to Bristol City has not really worked out thus far.
Earthy starred at Ashton Gate during a loan stint last season but has struggled since leaving West Ham United for the Robins in January.
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The 21-year-old has only started two games for the Championship club and is yet to register a goal or an assist.
Earthy has rarely played in his natural position of attacking midfield at Bristol City and manager Gerhard Struber has explained how he can do better to nail down a starting berth there.
Earthy told he must improve his decision-making in the final third
The Robins boss was asked by Bristol Live how Earthy could get back into the side in his favoured position.
While Struber admitted that a lack of game time made life difficult for him, he revealed that Earthy could be doing more when it came to decision-making in the last third of the pitch.
“It’s, of course, a little bit the end product – so scorer moments,” he said.
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David Sullivan takes in a West Ham match from the directors' box
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“When he plays in the 10, of course, he should be a player who brings us, in the end, something where we can speak about goals or final passes. In this direction, he can do better.”
The 21-year-old hasn’t actually started a Championship game since February and the competition for places is fierce.
Tomi Horvat and Scott Twine are both playing reasonably big roles for the club, complicating matters for the West Ham United academy graduate.
Still, the Robins chief does hope that he can kick on during the final part of his loan stint with the club.
He said: “I want to bring him in the next few games, a little bit more in game-time [so] that he can show also how important and also how good he can be for us.”
They sit 14th in the Championship table and while a late run into the play-offs is unlikely, it’s not impossible.
George Earthy during Ipswich Town v Bristol City - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
West Ham United have a problem with George Earthy now
Earthy is a highly-rated young player but this second loan stint at Bristol City has so far done little for his development.
At 21, he really needs to be playing regularly if he’s going to make the next step.
Progress in young players isn’t always linear, so he clearly shouldn’t be written off.
However, he obviously needs game time to polish his game. That has not been forthcoming thus far, and there’s not much time left this season.
If and when he is handed a run back in the team, Earthy needs to take the opportunity with both hands.
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