Harness took a while to get going but has hit 400 games

IT bears no relation to Burton Albion’s situation today but Marcus Harness passed a significant milestone last week when he passed 400 career appearances.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Many Brewers fans still tend to keep an eye on how Harness is getting on because of his status as “one of our own” after his emergence from the club’s youth set up.

And hasn't he done well for himself?

Harness is 29 now, so there is still plenty ahead for him and he may well be on target for another promotion this season with Saturday's opponents, Huddersfield Town, who have spent big in an attempt to put a poor League One season behind them last time out following relegation from the Championship.

It is 15 years now since Harness arrived at Burton as a 14-year-old after leaving his home town club, Coventry City.

And many Brewers fans will recall his debut for the first team in a preseason friendly against Derby County, aged 15, when he nutmegged a Rams defender with his first touch.

It was a little bit of a false dawn at the time as the young Harness struggled to find a way into the first-team picture.

He made one start and two substitute appearances in League Two in the 2013-14 season and 22 in the following season after signing a two-year professional deal.

The manager at the time, Gary Rowett, said that Harness had “bulked up” over the summer and added: “He's one of those players who can go past people. Whether he can do that over a sustained period, we'll only know when he gets opportunities.”