Fulham travel to Bournemouth later today in the Premier League, and many supporters of the west London side have dubbed the match a ‘relegation party’ in the glory of the South Coast sun.
And with Fulham accepting their fate of relegation, 16-year-old phenom Harvey Elliott should be given a chance to impress against the Cherries.
Scott Parker has shown his willingness to incorporate Fulham’s younger players into the first team side, with Elliott earning a place on the bench against Everton last week.
The teenager is an exceptional talent who is a regular for the Whites’ youth teams, scoring impressive goals for the U-23s and making his senior debut against Millwall in the League Cup last autumn.
The English youngster is the latest in a long line of promising Fulham academy prospects, joining the Sessegnon brothers, Luca de la Torre, Matt O’Riley, and Marlon Fossey.
There is no better time to gift Elliott a taste of Premier League football than in the coming weeks, with the Whites already guaranteed relegation and with the focus turning to next season in the Championship.
Scott Parker must be brave, and give the 16-year-old the opportunity to showcase his talents on the world’s biggest stage.
It will work wonders for the teenager’s confidence, and will undoubtedly aid his development as a footballer.