Jack Hinshelwood has impressed his manager of late (Picture: Getty Images)
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi hailed teenager Jack Hinshelwood as the ‘best player on the pitch for us’ in the win at AEK Athens in the Europa League on Thursday night.
A Joao Pedro penalty was the difference between the teams as Brighton secured a 1-0 win and booked their spot in the knockout rounds.
The Seagulls squad has been ravaged by injury which has offered an opportunity for the likes of Hinshelwood to shine and that’s exactly what he did.
Normally a central midfielder, Hinshelwood was playing at left-back and De Zerbi reckons he was the best player out there in Athens.
‘Jack Hinshelwood didn’t play well, he played a great game,’ De Zerbi told the BBC. ‘I think the best player on the pitch for us, for sure, with personality.
‘Before the game I was relaxed with him in the first XI, he’s younger but he’s older in his head. His personality, his character.’
Captain Lewis Dunk said of the teenager on TNT Sports: ‘Super proud, I think the whole football club is. He’s a credit to the whole football club to come through form the first age group to the first team and to put in a performance like that in Europe at 18, in a place like that is a credit to himself.
‘He’s a big player and he’s got a massive future ahead of him.’
Hinshelwood might be in action again at the weekend when Brighton go to Chelsea in the Premier League as their injury crisis shows few signs of easing.
De Zerbi had one piece of good news, that defender Jan Paul van Hecke could be back.
‘I think JP Van Hecke,’ he said. ‘And then I think no one [else] can be available.’
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