West Bromwich Albion assistant coach and ex-footballer Graeme Jones has hailed the progress of defender Ahmed Hegazi.
The 6ft 3in [Transfermarkt] ace represents Egypt on the international stage, and is currently the only Baggies’ player away on senior duty for his country, featuring in a 6-0 win over Niger on Saturday.
Jones believes that the centre-back is adapting well to his new role in West Brom’s back three as the season progresses, and added that playing in internationals is having benefits in terms of Hegazi’s development.
The former Wigan Athletic striker also remarked on how playing Belgium back in June has really helped him, as it has got him used to playing a higher level.
“Ahmed has got better and better every game. He has dropped into a back three and he’s got a greater understanding (of that role),” he told the Express and Star.
“You know that’s coming about because of international football so there can be real benefits. Belgium played against Egypt on June 6 and for him to play against that level of player with Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne all on the pitch has helped him.”
OPINION
Hegazi has had a rather mixed season so far, starting it in a lacklustre fashion following the extended break after this summer’s World Cup. The busy international schedule has the potential to wreck havoc with his development at West Brom, but Jones does not believe this to be the case after seeing him play against Belgium earlier this year. In that match, he saw Jones adapt to a higher level of football, and he thinks that has done him some good. In the Baggies’ 2-1 win over Stoke City last weekend, Hegazi looked vastly improved, and looks to be adapting to the back three that boss Darren Moore has decided to use. He is now a vital part of Moore’s formation, and hopefully being the only player away on international duty will help him even further as the season progresses. He has the ability to be a great defender, and by the sounds of it, he is already on his way there.