Coventry City prospect Ryan Howley is the latest success story to come through the club’s Academy system.
The 18-year-old has already been included in several of the Sky Blues first team squads and spent time training with Mark Robins’s senior side at Ryton, and was handed his Championship debut against Nottingham Forest earlier this month. Howley has topped an impressive year of personal progress by being named the Apprentice of the Year for the Championship at the EFL’s annual awards at the weekend.
But what do we know about the Nuneaton-born lad? Here Sky Blues Academy manager Dan Bolas provides an insight to the midfielder, outlining his qualities and strengths and plan for his progression.
READ MORE: ‘Bitter diagnosis’ – Coventry City forward suffers serious injury blow
READ MORE: ‘Negotiations with his agent’ – Coventry City man wanted this summer
Asked how he achieved the apprenticeship award, previously won by the likes of Jude Bellingham, Bolas told CoventryLive : “First and foremost, it’s a real positive for him and his family and vindicates the commitment he has shown since joining the Academy as an under-eight, which is obviously a long time ago now.
“He’s been really committed to the programme, bought into everything we have asked him to do and, again, done the same in the Under-23s and first team. He’s also really bought into the education side of the programme and also the life skills as well. We held a charity event for Zoe’s Place last week and he helped with the fund raising for that, and he’s been a real advocate and role model for the Academy.
“His family have been really supportive throughout the journey and that’s paramount to any success to have that really good support base, and he’s been fortunate to have that from his family.”
What’s his best position?
“I would say he’s a central midfielder. As we have seen, central midfielders can be seen as anything these days; they can defend, they can attack. I think he’s still a young developing player and I think he has attributes that could lend themselves to playing a number of positions across that middle of the park, so that could be as a CDM or a more attack-minded player or as a box-to-box midfielder. And as he continues to develop through his formative years and playing in men’s football he may find his position, or his position may find him.”
What are his main attributes?
“He’s calm and composed on the ball, he’s a good passer and he’s developing into quite a physically strong man now, and he’s technically very good, and can play off both feet.”
What about his stature?
“He’s 18 years of age and has hit a good height now. We don’t know if he’s finished growing yet and there’s a chance he might have another late growth spurt but he’s going to be 6ft/ 6ft1 as a minimum and hopefully he’ll keep developing in adult football and see where his journey goes.”
READ MORE: Portsmouth boss issues verdict on Coventry City striker Tyler Walker ahead of summer return
READ MORE: Red card and triallist OG as Coventry City U23s give up Fab Tav lead
What sort of temperament does he have?
“Any boy that goes through a football programme from nine to 19 years of age is going to be a competitive young man and I think Ryan is competitive, especially on the pitch. That’s a streak he has shown in training and in games. He wants to win, he wants to develop and he wants to improve. He wants to be the best he can possibly be.
“One of my best compliments I can pay him is that he will always do extra, so he’s one of those who will always do other bits when no-one’s watching. An example is his work in the gym with one of the strength and conditioning coaches, but if one of those left for whatever reason you know he’d still be doing his work when there is no-one watching. He’s always had a quiet confidence and wanted to develop and improve and go as far as he can in the game.”
What sort of character is he in the dressing room?
“He’s not a shouter and screamer in the dressing room but one who leads by example. He’s calm, well mannered and a respectful young man – the sort of lad you love having in your Academy and development programme because he always does things properly.”
What’s the plan or next step for him?
“That’s one for the gaffer (Mark Robins). He goes into his Under-19s season next year so that’s his next stage of his journey, whether that’s with Under-23s football, first team training squads and match days – that’s something that we will discuss. We speak regularly about him and all credit to the work the manager, Dennis Lawrence and Adi Viveash have done with him this season, which has been brilliant. We speak regularly about his development and progress, so we have constant conversations about how we can support the lad.”
In conclusion:
“He’s a great role model for other lads who can see one of their mates progressing into the first team, looking at his progress and wanting to do that themselves. The whole point of having an Academy system is to develop young players and young men who will go on to play professional football, ideally for Coventry City.
“Ryan has proved that model by coming in at eight or nine years of age and moving through the age groups by completing all the challenges that any Academy lad would have from fitness, form, injury and performing well throughout the age groups and be recognised not only by his football club but also internationally for Wales as well as a youth international. So he’s a really good role model to have for the next generation.”