Potter hails ‘handful’ Connolly’s Brighton hold-up play

Graham Potter has praised Aaron Connolly’s “surprising” ability to hold up play for Brighton and backed him to improve his partnership with Neal Maupay. The 19-year-old is enjoying his breakthrough campaign at the Amex Stadium after he initially hit the headlines with a brace in the 3-0 win against Tottenham earlier in the month.
Connolly graduated from the Seagulls academy in 2017 and spent time on loan with Luton last season as he waited for his Albion chance.
And having secured a chance under Potter this season, he also worked his way into Mick McCarthy’s senior Republic of Ireland squad for this month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Georgia and Switzerland.
The teenager has three goals already this term and while he didn’t score in Saturday’s 3-2 win against Everton, he was involved in the controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) penalty decision when Michael Keane was adjudged to have fouled him.
Maupay scored from the spot to level the game at 2-2 and a late Lucas Digne own goal secured the three points for Brighton.
Potter was pleased Connolly displayed another facet to his attacking play during the game.
He told the Argus: “I use the word surprising because he is known for running in behind. But if you play the balls into him, he is good enough to link up. “Then his work for the team is really good as a young player. Him and Neal are a handful. I think you are always in the game with those two. We didn’t probably use them as well as we could.”
Connolly and Maupay will look to continue leading the line for the visit of Norwich on Saturday although Leandro Trossard is pushing for a start after coming off the bench against the Toffees.
To accommodate all three, Potter would have to drop Pascal Gross and that would be harsh on the German as he opened the scoring with a free-kick at the weekend.