Busy Fryers Being Tested

Warren Joyce has revealed the rationale behind fielding Ezekiel Fryers in three different teams already this season.

The 19-year-old made an accomplished debut in the Carling Cup against Leeds after starring for the Reserves this term and also appearing as an over-aged player in the Academy win against the Elland Road outfit.

The United staff were keen to improve Fryers' communication skills as he develops into a leader at the back.

"You are just trying to improve them and develop them in all ways," Joyce told ManUtd.com. "Talking, particularly for defenders, is another skill in terms of organisation. You need to be good at that and it put the onus on him by playing him in the Under-18s with that in mind.

"He needed to talk more and move people into positions and could practise doing that. He then carried on with that in a couple of the Reserves' games.

"To be fair to the kid, he's played a hell of a lot of games already this season - 17 or 18 full games and probably three different teams in the space of two weeks."

Although Sir Alex revealed he perhaps sees Fryers first and foremost as a left-back, Joyce feels the teenager is just as adept in the middle.

"I don't like to pigeon-hole them at this age," he stated. "He can play in both positions and we want him to develop as an all-round footballer.

"He's certainly done well in all the pre-season games at centre-half. He's only had a few games at full-back, against Rochdale maybe, but he's done really well at centre-half against teams like Shrewsbury, Morecambe and Fleetwood in the friendlies and they are all doing well this season so it's been a good test."

Fryers' games this season
First team:
v Leeds (A) 3-0

Reserves:
v Arsenal (A) 1-2
v Swansea (H) 6-0
v Bury (H) 2-0
v Fulham (H) 2-1
v Rochdale (A) 2-1
v Norwich (A) 4-2

Academy:
v Leeds (H) 3-1

Fryers was also a regular during the pre-season campaign for the Reserves.