Article from a couple of days ago about Callum Morton on the Athletic so thought I'd copy and paste for those who don't have a subscription.
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Irrespective of events at Wembley this evening, Callum Morton seems destined for a promotion this summer.
The West Bromwich Albion striker will wrap up a loan spell at Northampton Town with an appearance in the League Two play-off final against Exeter tonight. But regardless of the result, Morton is set for League One or even the Championship next season, such has been his impact since arriving at Sixfields.
Seven goals in 11 appearances for Keith Curle’s side have made Morton one of League Two’s more feared forwards and his brace at Cheltenham last Monday inspired a dramatic fightback as Northampton won the second leg of their semi-final 3-0 for a 3-2 aggregate win.
Now, The Athletic understands, a host of League One clubs have secured an interest in taking him on loan next season and some Championship clubs have also been in touch.
Talks are planned with Albion after tonight’s game about extending Morton’s contract at The Hawthorns, which has a year left to run. The 20-year-old’s priority is to remain in first-team football next season and he would consider extending his deal at Albion or moving on a permanent basis to avoid a return to under-23s football.
First, though, comes tonight’s big game beneath the Wembley arch.
Many Albion fans might have been unaware of Morton until last Monday, when his goals against Cheltenham threw him into the spotlight. Jamie Smith, however, had an inkling three-and-a-half years ago that Morton might have a big future.
The former Wolves and Crystal Palace defender, now assistant manager to Darren Moore at Doncaster, was Albion under-18s boss when his side were drawn to face Yeovil or Merstham in the third round of the 2016-17 FA Youth Cup. He travelled to watch the sides play their second-round tie at Huish Park and was immediately taken by a red-headed centre-forward on the home side.
“When I went back, I said to the lads, ‘This guy is a threat’,†Smith told The Athletic. “I said we needed to be on our guard and not take this lad lightly, but then we played them in the FA Youth Cup and he ripped us up, really.
“I was impressed by his energy, his enthusiasm, his endeavour. He’s a typical old-fashioned centre-forward who likes to run in behind and you just don’t get that anymore.
“Everybody wants to get it to feet, so someone who stretches defenders and runs in behind them is priceless and that’s what Callum gives you. That’s what he did on that night.â€
Morton’s spectacular goal helped Yeovil to a shock 3-2 win at The Hawthorns and caught the eye of a watching Tony Pulis. The Welshman, who was then Albion’s first-team boss, was at the FA Youth Cup tie with his coaching staff and, in the coming days, urged the club to do whatever they could to sign Morton before his talents attracted more suitors.
Their pursuit began with a brief trial which confirmed to Pulis what he had seen in the game. “He came up and trained a couple of times with the lads and the big thing that struck us was his effort, his enthusiasm and his determination to improve,†Pulis told The Athletic.
“I was really impressed with a lot of the lads at the Albion at youth level but he brought a different dimension.
“He was raw. He looked as though he was desperately keen to be a professional footballer. He is a throwback to the old days and he has a great attitude.
“His determination and willingness to run just stood out. Technically at the time he wasn’t as good as (Nathan) Ferguson and others who have gone on, but his effort really stood out.
“I had a close working relationship with the people in the academy. I would go out and watch them train and work — and I tried to get the kids involved with the first team as much as I could. I had a good feel for that part of the club. I trusted them and I think they trusted me.
“The other players — the two lads who have gone to Charlton this year (Sam Field and Jonathan Leko) and Nathan Ferguson — they were all technically very good but this kid had so much raw talent in terms of effort and determination.
“He’s a nice kid and it’s always good to see them doing well. I have always thought the kids should go out on loan. They should step up and play football so when they came back they are more manly and understanding of what is needed to be a professional footballer.â€
Having been on the receiving end of Morton’s raw ability, Jamie Smith soon found himself charged with harnessing it. Albion signed him in January 2017 and Smith was immediately impressed.
“He’s a really good kid,†says Smith. “The first thing I said to him when he came in is ‘don’t change, do what you do’ — because we had nobody like him in the academy.
“There aren’t many people around who do the things he does — it’s Shane Long-esque. He was a little bit shy when he first came in but he soon got to know the lads and settled in and has thrived.â€
By the summer of 2018, Morton found himself on the move again, this time on loan. Hakan Hayrettin, the Braintree Town manager, needed a striker for their National League campaign and Moore, by then Albion’s first-team boss, suggested a move for Morton could help all parties.
Morton played 14 times, scored five goals and made a big impression on Danny Searle, Hayrettin’s assistant who took over as manager midway through the loan spell.
“His work ethic, his attitude around the training ground and everything else was spot on,†says Searle. “His work out of possession is spot-on and he’s committed.
“Sometimes when you get an academy lad coming into a first-team environment, it takes time for them to settle and get used to the physicality of the game. But he hit the ground running.
“He was good in the air, his ability to bring others into play was brilliant and he can finish. He ticked so many boxes for us. I was fortunate to form quite a close relationship with him because he was living in a hotel not far from us so he used to come round and we’d go and get food or whatever.
“He’s just a really nice lad. He just goes about his work quietly. He’s not big on social media and he hasn’t got agents throwing his name all over the place.
“He lets his football do the talking and he’s a prime example that sometimes you should just keep your head down and do your work. He’s reaping the rewards of that now.
“He’s a bit of a hybrid. He’s an old-fashioned No 9 in that you can play the ball into him and he can hold up play and can be a threat in behind. But he’s got a really good technical understanding too and he’s good with his feet.
“He can drop in deeper and he did that quite a bit for us. He’s got a lot of the core attributes of a traditional No 9 but blended with a modern-day forward.â€
Morton’s time at Braintree was cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in a game against Chesterfield in March. He was told his recover would take nine months.
“He showed a real desire and determination when he got that injury to get fitter and stronger,†says Smith. “Although it was a big blow, there was a real positive to it which was that he was able to work on his upper-body strength and his physicality.â€
By January this year, Morton was back in training and keen to play more football. But his serious injury was so recent, Northampton were one of the few clubs willing to take a chance so soon.
Their decision has paid off handsomely and kick-started Morton’s career. Now, the man who plays in an old-school way is looking forward to a bright future.
“I think there’s a place for players like him,†says Smith. “Shane Long is still doing it and Jamie Vardy is that type, and they add something different to your team — a different dynamic.
“Callum isn’t as quick as Vardy but he’s quick enough. He’s technically good as well. He can link the play, he’s got a good first touch and he’s a decent finisher as well.
“He’s got a great chance of having a really good career. Potentially he could definitely play at the top end of the Championship or even the Premier League if he keeps working hard.â€
