Cambridge United boss Neil Harris discusses Ben Knight’s ongoing ‘learning’ journey at Cledara Abbey Stadium after Ipswich Town, Manchester City and Real Murcia stints

Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris believes that Ben Knight is on a ‘learning’ journey at the club.

After a bright pre-season, summer addition Knight went on to earn the man-of-the-match award as the U’s started the new campaign with a 1-0 victory over Cheltenham Town earlier this month.

In Cambridge’s other League Two fixtures so far this term against Swindon Town and Harrogate Town, Knight’s influence on proceedings has been more limited, with opposition teams seemingly paying him special attention.

And having played very little senior football prior to his arrival at the Cledara Abbey Stadium following spells with Ipswich Town, Manchester City and Real Murcia, Harris is prepared to have patience with the 22-year-old as he continues to adapt to the rigours of the professional game.

Harris said: “Harrogate did a good job on him at the weekend. Ben played his first 90 minutes against Swindon for three years or something like that and believe it or not, sometimes it just takes time to recover.

“I don’t think he was quite as bright a spark as we’ve seen. He was bright when he came off the bench the other night (against Bristol Rovers in the League Cup) for 15/20 minutes, he was excellent against Cheltenham and in and out of the game against Swindon.

“We have to accept that in players like SK (Sullay Kaikai), Brophs (James Brophy), Ben Knight and Elias (Kachunga) to a certain extent, they’re going to be a little bit in and out of games because that’s the way they play the game.

“With Ben at the weekend we saw some brilliant moments. The structure of the team was so good with and without the ball for so long – and he was a huge part of that. He maybe didn’t have those creative little sparks that he had in previous games over the course of pre-season and at the start of the season, but it’s another learning curve for him.

“People look at Ben Knight and go ‘Ipswich, sold to Man City and gone to Real Murcia – at every minute of every game he’s going to be a genius’. No, people have to understand that Ben Knight is of age where he’s not at the age he is off the pitch on the pitch because he hasn’t played that amount of football.

“It’s about him developing his game as well and me putting him in the team and out of the team, from the start and off the bench at the right times. It’s about making sure we’re keeping him fit and also making sure we’re really respectful that it’s his second 90 minutes already this season, which is brilliant for him – absolutely class.

“That’s development in itself because he needs to learn his body. He got cramp at the end of the game with 10 minutes to go (against Harrogate) but carried on because we didn’t have anymore sub windows.

“There’s different ways of learning and Ben at the moment is full-time training every day in our environment and at our intensity. In the games he’s playing longer than he’s ever played and some games he’s going to be the best player in the league and others we have to accept he might be a little bit below his standards. It’s my job to keep him as consistent as possible.”