Fabian Hurzeler spelt out what Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas can take from their run-out with the under-21s.
he forwards went on for the last half-hour of an under-21s match against West Brom in Premier League 2 on Sunday.
It was not as gentle an introduction as might have been expected as the Baggies defenders gave them pretty physical treatment.
Hurzeler watched the game and felt it was valuable for both youngsters.
For some context, Tzimas last played a competitive match the day after Albion drew 2-2 at Manchester City in March.
Kostoulas’s most recent appearance was in a cup tie on the night the Seagulls lost 3-0 to Aston Villa in early April.
Hurzeler told The Argus: “It was a very important test for them, not only that they are back on the pitch and playing football but also to get their bodies adapted to the intensity of the Premier League.
“It is only going step by step. It is very important that we don’t force it.
“We have to understand that they both had an injury that made them be out for a long time.
“Especially Stefanos, he suffered the injury twice or three times in a row in the same area and that is something that creates doubts in a player.
“It is very important to give them the feeling that you are safe, you can push your limits, you can make the next step.
“There it is very important that you don’t force it, that you have a really fine line of pushing them and then a right moment to bring them a little bit back and calm them down.
“But it is very good they are back on the pitch.
“Now we have to see step by step that they are getting more game time and that we make them ready to play Premier League.”
