Brighton defender Adam Webster recalls being labelled not good enough in League Two and responds to Jamie Carragher
JAMIE CARRAGHER rates him as England’s best defender when it comes to passing out from the back with both feet. Anyone who has watched Adam Webster carry the ball from the heart of Brighton’s defence, and pick out a team-mate as easily with his left foot as his right, would be inclined to agree. Everything […]
JAMIE CARRAGHER rates him as England’s best defender when it comes to passing out from the back with both feet.
Anyone who has watched Adam Webster carry the ball from the heart of Brighton’s defence, and pick out a team-mate as easily with his left foot as his right, would be inclined to agree.
Everything about the way the Three Lions hopeful plays screams confidence.
Which makes the fact that he used to suffer from a serious lack of self-belief all the more surprising to hear.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at Tottenham, Webster revealed: “When I was younger, I never really had much confidence when I used to step onto the pitch. It was something I always struggled with.”
The esteem issues began while playing in League Two with Portsmouth as a teenager.
Webster would often be on the bench, but when he did play it was predominantly in the unfamiliar role of full-back.
For all his laser-like distribution now, the Pompey fans back then would give him grief whenever he misplaced a pass.
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It affected him “quite a bit”, as did reading any negative press, and he would play within himself.
One particular story summed up how brutal his own supporters could be at the time.
Webster, who turned 28 on Friday, recalled: “I remember once, I wasn’t even playing, I was on the bench and we lost 1-0 away at Leyton Orient.
“One of the other young lads, who was a year above me, tried to play a pass back to the keeper. It got intercepted and they scored. It was the deciding goal.
“After the game I was getting pelters on Twitter because people were saying, ‘Don’t worry, you won’t be as bad as Adam Webster!’
“That always sticks in my head. I can look back and laugh now but at the time I was like, “Hold on a minute, I’m not even playing here’. It was quite tough at the time.”
What is also surprising about Webster’s revelation is that he had played six times for the England Under-19s by then.
You would assume that playing for your country would be the ultimate shot in the arm to boost any young player.
Yet Webster explained: “I was on loan at Aldershot when I got called up ([for England].
“I was in the Conference and there was Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea, for example. Players from Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal.
“So you’re naturally going to doubt yourself whether you should be there or not. Or I certainly did, anyway.”
Webster gradually began to believe in his ability when he moved to centre-back.
He became more confident with every switch up the divisions as he moved to Ipswich, Bristol City and finally to Brighton in 2019, whom he joined for a record £20million.
Now he is flying under Graham Potter, who not only encourages Webster to make the most of his passing skills, but also organises the team to capitalise on them.
Webster explained: “The way he sets us up every week, we know all of our responsibilities and he just gives you that freedom to go out and express yourself.
“I’ve had managers in the past where if you try something, you’re looking over your shoulder to see if they’re screaming or shouting at you. But he’s not like that at all.”
It has paid dividends with Webster now boasting better passes, passes forward and tackles per 90 minutes this season than John Stones, Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings and Ben White.
His performance in last month’s 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea, in which he headed home the leveller, prompted ex-England star Carragher to tweet: “Adam Webster’s passing out from the back, with both feet is better than any other English central defender”.
Webster was inundated with messages pointing out Carragher’s praise for him, which the former Shots loanee said was “really, really nice” to hear from a “top pundit who had an amazing career himself”.
But all niceties aside, Carragher made a pertinent point about Webster’s ability compared to his fellow English centre-backs.
No one is performing as well when it comes to bringing the ball out from the back and it will not have gone unnoticed by Gareth Southgate.
SunSport understands Webster was close to a maiden senior call-up last March before ankle ligament damage ruined his chances.
If he can stay injury-free, he will surely be in contention for next month’s friendly against Switzerland.
But the question is, would he have any confidence issues if called up, like he did nearly a decade ago when with the Under-19s?
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Webster assuredly replied: “Definitely not.
“I’ve proven that I can play in the Premier League and I relish the games we play against the top-six clubs. I feel like I’ve always done well against teams like that.
“That would be no different when I go to England. Obviously it would be a step-up again but I think I’m ready for that challenge and it’s one that I’d relish.”
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