Hopper Off The Mark

The 19-year-old rounded off the scoring for Steve Beaglehole’s Development Squad in their season opener against Middlesbrough at Victoria Park on Monday night – a venomous left foot strike in a 3-1 victory, and is eager to add to his tally.

A striker by trade, Hopper has shown his versatility and willingness to help the team by featuring as a left sided centre half for Nigel Pearson’s first team in pre-season, and even started on the left flank against Boro.

And for the Boston-born youngster, who took part in a pre-season training camp in Austria with the first team, it has all been a wonderful learning experience so far.

He told : “It gives me massive confidence to be around the first team and for them to be giving me plaudits as well is just great.

“I was making up the numbers in Austria at centre back, and I think I did well in some 11 v 11 games and the gaffer quite liked me there so wanted to see me in a game to see if I could handle it. So he put a bit of faith in me in pre-season and I gave it a go.

“I had my loan spell with Bury last season obviously and now this is my first real taste of the U21s Premier League with our Development Squad. As you’ve seen the standard really is great, and to play in Football League stadiums as well is only going to benefit us. It’s a great league and we’re delighted to be part of it." 

The next challenge for the U21s is a Monday night tie against Sunderland at King Power Stadium, and with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City all set to visit this season, it’s an exciting prospect for Hopper.

“I can’t wait to get them all down to King Power Stadium!” Said the youngster.

“They’ll be hard games, as they all are in this league so we’ll have to take each game as it comes and see how we can combat them all.

“You’re going to have high quality players playing in this league every week, whether they’re coming back from injury or getting some match fitness. It’s a great challenge for us all and I can’t wait to come up against all these big teams and players – that’s why I play football."

As far as the win over Middlesbrough went, the young striker was delighted with the display and to join Jeff Schlupp and Ben Marshall on the scoresheet. He added: “It was a good workout for the lads, and I’m obviously pleased to get my first goal of the season.

“Hopefully there will be plenty more to come, depending on where I’m playing!

“It seemed to open up eventually for my goal after winding my way through the defence. Luckily I hit the ball well and it’s always nice to get a goal, and especially at that point in the game it was 2-1 so it was nice to get that two-goal cushion back.

“I came to the club as a striker so I suppose I still class myself as a striker but I’m the type of player that will slot in anywhere if I need to do a job, and I like to think I do those jobs well.”