Paul Hart believes teenage starlet Nathaniel Clyne has what it takes to be a top Premiership player after being named the Football League young player of the year.
The Crystal Palace full back came 17th in FourFourTwo’s top 50 Football League players at the Football League Awards on Sunday night.
That made him the highest ranked player under the age of 21, beating Nottingham Forest’s Paul Anderson and Southampton’s Adam Lallana to the young player of the year title.
Clyne almost moved to Premiership side Wolves in January but turned down the offer of joining Mick McCarthy's side and Hart believes it only a matter of time before the 18-year-old makes his mark in the top flight.
"I think he must be one of the best young full backs in the country," said Hart.
"He has got the game to be an extremely good player and I am sure given time and given the right development he will eventually play in the Premiership.
"It is a great achievement for him to win this award and it's thoroughly deserved.
"Since I came to this club he has shown great mentality for such a young man."
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