Leeds United prospect Harry Gray's number 10 possibility as boss likens him to ex-Whites loanee
Leeds United youngster Harry Gray is already earning rave reviews and making history at Rotherham United but the opinion that matters most is that he can do much more.
Millers boss Matt Hamshaw was certain that Gray would boost a struggling attack in their League One relegation battle and it took the loanee just three games to find the net. A near-post header on Saturday against Northampton Town was an historical one, making the 17-year-old Rotherham's youngest ever goalscorer. More importantly, it helped Rotherham to a first league victory since early November. Having lost narrowly on his debut, as the Millers stretched their losing streak to eight games, Gray then experienced a draw with AFC Wimbledon and followed it up with a win that narrowed the gap to 22nd-placed Northampton to a single point.
Gray is having to learn quickly on the job, having never experienced men's football to this degree let alone a relegation scrap.
"I said when we signed him, I think you'll see him getting better and better game on game," said Hamshaw. "I think that he's not aware of what he's coming into, obviously. We're helping him on the training pitch, we're helping him through clips et cetera. I think we'll massively help him. The fact that he's the youngest ever scorer in Rotherham United's history is a phenomenal achievement. You look at some of the good young players there have been at this club and the fact that he's broken that record is a huge credit to him. We kind of knew what we were getting. We're lucky that he's chosen to come to this club and I think he's enjoying it. I think that whenever a player gets a goal, it breeds confidence in them."
Thus far Gray has been used in a front two, as a number 9, as was expected when he made the move. But with Hamshaw keen for Gray to avoid engaging with big League One centre-backs so that he can find space to make things happen on the ball, the Leeds academy product might get the chance to add some versatility to his game. Hamshaw has likened him to a former Leeds and Millers loanee.
"I think that he can play a number of roles," said Hamshaw. "I think he's an intelligent lad, an intelligent player. We've gone with him as one of two 9s with Sam Nombe. We'll play him as a 10 in some games. We might play him off the right, drifting in. He reminds me a little bit of Izzy Brown in that he can float, he can play in between lines, he can see a pass. He's got that cutting edge, he's a goal threat. Every day, he's continuously working on his game, whether that's finishing or a bit of hold-up play. They're the type of players that you want. You want the players who keep coming and asking you for work."
As for off the pitch, a lot of publicity followed Gray's decision to join Rotherham - having pushed to leave Leeds on loan for a taste of senior football - and Hamshaw is keen to take advantage of that in the final days of the transfer window.
"I think the signing of Harry might have changed the dynamic a little bit for the club because he's already a relatively high-profile player," Hamshaw said.
"People see that Harry has come to us, and that can have a knock-on wave. We're better than what we're showing in our league position and it's for me to try to sell that to targets. My aim is to make the team as good as I possibly can. I'm aware that we are tight budget-wise - I can't sit here and say we're not, because we are. But we're trying to push as hard as we can."