Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen has explained why he included 19-year-old Shandre Campbell in his squad for their UEFA Champions League clash with Aston Villa.
The home side lost 3-1 to the Premier League team after conceding to a late own goal and penalty against them. They had knocked out UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta in the previous round, becoming the first Belgian side to win a knockout match in the UCL era.
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While Campbell was not included in the squad in the previous round, he was on the bench for the first leg with Villa after recently being promoted to the first team.
His coach explained the South African has shown great progress since joining Club NXT, Brugge’s reserve team, from SuperSport United ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and earned his place in the first team.
“Shandre is training now with the team,” he said after his side’s defeat to Villa, where Campbell remained on the bench.
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“He showed with [Club] NXT he has potential and this is the way we work. With high potentials we give them the step by training with the first team and give them minutes where it’s possible.
“When he deserves it he will get minutes.”
Campbell has scored six goals with an assist in 15 games for Club NXT, whilst also featuring with Amajita in the U20 Cosafa Cup, where he won the Player of the Tournament as they secured qualification to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was promoted to the Brugge first-team squad in January, and made his Jupiler Pro League debut in their 2-2 draw with Sint-Truiden last month.
