Neo Eccleston heads out to Barrow on season-long loan
The Huddersfield Town right-back will be hoping to get his first season of senior competitive football as he heads out on loan to League Two
Huddersfield Town full-back Neo Eccleston has joined League Two Barrow on a season-long loan.
The former Chelsea academy player joined Town in 2020 as an under-17 and is still yet to make a competitive first-team appearance for the club, but was named among the substitutes for the first time when the Terriers visited Ipswich Town on the final day of last season.
Eccleston has featured three times for Michael Duff’s first-team squad in pre-season friendlies this summer, playing away to both Emley and Harrogate before featuring late on in last week’s encounter with Hertha Berlin out in Austria. He has a further year left on his Town contract with the club holding the option to extend it until 2026.
Duff said in a club statement: “I’ve been pleased with how Neo has applied himself since we arrived at the club, and he’s had a couple of encouraging moments in our pre-season friendly games that have caught the eye. With still a lot to learn at his age, this is the perfect opportunity for him to go and do just that.
“Part of your learning as a young defender is realising that these opportunities only work if you’re willing to commit and get as much out from it as you put in, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on his progress to make sure that he is getting the necessary growth from the experience as both a person and professional.”
The 20 year old will now be hoping to get his first taste of senior football under new Barrow boss Stephen Clemence, who replaced Pete Wild at the end of last season.
Barrow finished eighth in the fourth tier last season, missing out on a play-off place by just a single point.
Terriers sporting director Mark Cartwright added: “Neo is a player full of promise, but lacks the experience required at senior level at this stage in his career to be part of our first ream group straightaway. By joining an ambitious side in Sky Bet League Two, he will now have the chance to fill in that blank and grow his game in a competitive environment.
“Needing to win matches, playing for points and feeling the pressure and expectations of supporters and crowds is all part of the learning, and as we have seen in the past with Brodie Spencer, that learning can be invaluable for when they return to the club.”
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