Watford v Barnsley – Carlton Morris hoping to learn from Borussia Dortmund rising star Erling Haaland

Carlton Morris is among the honourable exceptions.

That said, Barnsley’s recent signing looks up to someone who is already among the best at his craft in the world game at the tender age of just 20 in Erling Haaland.

The Borussia Dortmund striker has attracted plenty of interest from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, with the latter reportedly keen to make the Norwegian international the most expensive player in their history this summer.

Morris is almost five years older than Leeds-born Haaland, whose father Alfe-Inge played for Leeds United, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest in his time in England.

It does not stop him learning from Haaland junior.

Morris, who made his Reds debut from the bench in Saturday’s Championship game with Swansea City, said: “It is a bit embarrassing as he is about five years younger than me, but I am a really big fan of Erling Haaland at Dortmund.

“I have found myself watching his clips as everything about his game – his movement, pace, power and the way he uses his body; everything – is years above his age.

“If you can learn something off him, why not?”

Physicality remains a big part of Morris’s game, which has been forged in the lower divisions with the likes of Rotherham United, Shrewsbury Town and MK Dons.

A selfless player with a ferocious work ethic, Morris’s goal return has been relatively modest in his career thus far – although most players are in comparison to his idol.

But he is exactly the sort of professional who team-mates and managers value. Speak to Millers chief Paul Warne and he will quickly vouch for Morris’s credentials from his spells on loan there.

A solid character who was not frightened of moving out of his comfort zone at Norwich to a variety of loan destinations in his early career – including Hamilton Academical and York City – Morris feels ready for his next step.

His biggest challenge is now at Barnsley after signing an initial two-and-a-half year deal after joining on a permanent basis from Norwich City.

At a key stage in his career, he has been offered a cherished chance to establish himself in the Championship. It is an opportunity he is determined not to pass up and you sense that fewer players will work harder.

On his playing style and status as a ‘worker’, he commented: “It is that classic hard graft. You cannot make it anywhere if you are not willing to do the fundamentals and basics, so you might as well enjoy it as it is something that is part of the game.

“Going through my career, I found that the more tentative I was about it – like at the start of my younger days – the less effective I would be at it. You have to kind of throw yourself in it totally to reap the rewards.

“That (work ethic) is what the good managers and pundits see and point out when you are watching Monday Night Football – that those sort of performances should not go unnoticed when you really graft for the team and teams get results.

“It is just important as a goal, sometimes.”

The final member of Norwich’s FA Youth Cup winning class of 2013 to leave, Morris has not been short of well-wishers after swapping East Anglia for Yorkshire.

Another famous name who he became close friends with during his time with the Canaries in Leicester City and England midfielder James Maddison has also been quick to extend his support to his good mate.

Morris added: “I speak to ‘Madders’ all the time and he has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. It suits him and to be fair, he is a really good lad and he has not forgotten his roots at all.

“That is something I really admire about him and I am proud of what he has gone onto achieve.

“He is buzzing for me as it is a bit closer to him, so we can go and see each other once these lockdown restrictions are over.”

A positive reference about Barnsley from Morris’s old Norwich team-mate Cameron McGeehan – captain of the side who beat Chelsea in that Youth Cup showpiece – also helped to crystallise his decision to head north.

The striker, whose Carrow Road ex-team mates also included Huddersfield Town’s Harry Toffolo and ex-Sheffield Wednesday loanee Jacob Murphy, said: “Cam is a top lad and you should have tried not signing after the way he spoke about Barnsley!

“To be fair, he was spot on and it has been excellent and I have really enjoyed it and I am glad that I talked and listened to him on that one as he was bang on.”

Last six games: Watford DLWLLW; Barnsley LWWLWL.

Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).

Last time: Watford 3 Barnsley 0; March 15, 2014; Championship.

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