ADAM Murray knows Seb Thompson can have a major impact at Harriers between now and the end of the season.
Seb began the season with the Reds but enjoyed a hugely fruitful spell away from Aggborough with Leamington.
While there, the attacker made more than a dozen starts for the Brakes, and found real form in front of goal.
He bagged four goals in a run of five National League North games before his return to Aggborough – a spell Murray knows did him the world of good.
“We sent Seb out for a reason,” he explained: “He wanted to play regularly, [and], we needed him to play regularly.
He's a young player that had a real tough season last season, so confidence is always an issue, especially with attacking players.
“We wanted him to go out and build that, and he did that. He had a great loan period.
“But my chat with Seb has been really honest, because playing in this pressure cooker is a lot different. There's a lot more pressure on you to perform, and you're coming back to a team where probably our wide players have been our strongest players.
“So you've got to fight for that shirt.”
Thompson has featured in Harriers’ last three league outings and did so on the back of an insistence that he could make a difference in Red at what is a pivotal time of the campaign.
Murray went on: “He was the one that made the decision that: ‘I think I can affect this.’ And I love that response from him.
“I wanted him to come back, but I needed him to make the decision because, ultimately, he's got to feel in a position that he can come in and take that shirt.
“Now that's up to him. It's up to him to dislodge George.
“I think the glimpses we've seen of Seb when he's come on, he's such a good player. He's got so much quality.
“We know the areas he needs to work on. We have great chats with that. He can be an asset for us and, ultimately, it's on his toes now to break that.”