Isaiah Powis: Developing Through Versatility | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s player Isaiah Powis has had an exciting but challenging season.

The versatile youngster has been asked to play in different positions, and while it hasn’t always been easy, he believes it has aided his development.

“This season has been a big learning experience for me,” said Powis.

“I’ve played in different roles, and it’s really helped me understand the game better.

“It’s not just about playing your natural position; it’s about learning new skills and adapting to what the team needs.”

Powis has spent time playing as a centre-back and in a defensive midfielder role, testing different aspects of his game.

“Playing at centre-back has been a great experience,” he continued.

“I’ve learned a lot about positioning, how to read the game, and how to communicate with my team-mates.

“As a centre-back, you have to be a leader, and that’s something I’ve been working on. I have made mistakes, but I have been given a platform to learn from them.

“Midfield is very different from playing at the back. You have to be aware of everything happening around you, and you’re involved in both defending and attacking.

“I’ve learned how to win the ball back quickly and how to keep possession under pressure.”

A big part of his development has come from the guidance of his coaches.

Lydia Bedford, who was the U18s head coach earlier in the season before moving to Canada, played a key role in his growth, and he is now continuing to learn under Jon-Paul Pittman, who has taken over as head coach in the interim period.

“Lydia really helped me become more confident.

“She pushed me to be more vocal on the pitch and to believe in my ability to play in different positions. She always gave great advice and made sure we were improving as players.

“Jon-Paul has been brilliant with us. He has a lot of experience and always tells us to trust the process.

“He’s helped me understand the game better, especially in terms of positioning and decision-making. He also gives us the confidence to express ourselves on the pitch.”

The young Bees have had mixed results this season, but Powis believes the squad is making progress.

“We have a lot of first-year scholars in the team like myself, and it takes time to build chemistry.

“Even when results haven’t gone our way, we’re improving every game and we’re learning from each other.”

Brentford U18s face Charlton Athletic at the young Addicks' Training Ground on Saturday morning (11am kick-off GMT).