Fleet boss Steve Brown revealed Lloyd Harrington’s appearance in a Fleet shirt against Charlton came out of the blue after the Dover defender/midfielder sought to gain more regular football following a lack of game time at Crabble this pre-season.
He told Charles Webster, “Lloyd wasn’t on the radar at all. I had no idea he was available but I got a phone call a couple of days ago saying ‘I’m not getting any minutes, is there any chance you could have a little look?’. I know Lloyd, I’d only be interested in bringing him here as a centre half and if I’m honest, we’ll see what happens. I’ve given him 15 minutes tonight. Who knows what will happen in the next week or so.”
The Fleet boss revealed Shane Huke had picked up a slight injury, so he was looking for cover in defence. “[Lloyd]’s a good young player and if he’s available I’d be mad not to look at him. It’s an area where I’m short at the moment. But as I say to anybody who comes to this squad now, you have to fight for your place. You can’t come here and think you’re going to play.”
Twenty-year-old Harrington has represented England Schoolboys and he progressed to the Dover first-team via the club’s academy in 2012. He was a regular in the Whites’ 2012-13 squad that reached the play-offs but his 2013-14 season was cut short only two games in after sustaining a knee ligament injury against the Fleet in August 2013.
