Personally, I think it’s a good call. I’m disappointed he’s out of the team at the minute as I thought he was playing well and had been MoM in a couple of games. I don’t agree that Harris should walk straight back in as soon as he’s fit. Don’t get me wrong, I think Harris is OK but I think those in form should keep the shirt.
He won’t be on a lot of money at all as a 20 year old with a handful of first team appearances coming from non-league. But he has proven that at worst, he is a capable squad player to come in and do a job at the age of 20. Hopefully, he will develop beyond that into a really good player but if not, we will still be paying him less than the likes of McEveley and Alcock who have occupied that defensive cover role previously. It’s a step in the right direction for me. Sign and keep young players who show some promise. Then, if you’re looking for experience, only a select few who are proven to be a cut above the level they are playing at (like when we signed people like Ehiogu, Speed, McCall, McGrath, Cowans, Unsworth etc). A few of them supported by willing, competent, athletic youngsters is a good formula to follow in my opinion.
Wallace is young, tall, cheap, strong and versatile. That is exactly the sort of player that should be providing cover for a first team of much higher quality than the one we have now.
I’ll only be complaining if we renew the contracts of people like McEveley, Alcock, Collins, JCR, Howard, Higdon, Flynn, Cuvelier, McFadzean, Kennedy, J. Wallace etc.
* The last 2 because of their injury record- I like them as footballers.