Hector the next Smalling?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 4:40 PM | by Adam Gray 
The New Horizons spacecraft is to date the fastest space launch ever recorded, reaching a speed of 16.26 kilometres per second, or 36.373 mph for the layman, but the rise of defender Chris Smalling, from non-league Maidstone to Premier League Fulham and then to a full-England international with Manchester United in the space of two years is something to rival that astronomical rise.
The same jump through the leagues could happen next to Michael Hector; the Reading centre-half who was plucked the Conference South’s Thurrock FC in 2009 and is now subject of interest from Premier League Norwich.
Keen not to let Hector become another player rotting away in the reserves like a badly stored apple, Reading have kept him fresh by loaning him out to seven clubs for short spells, the latest being Barnet where he has impressed with a series of calm, assured performances.
An imposing figure at a jolly green giant style 6ft 4inches, Hector has become a favourite at Underhill as he has helped the perennial relegation candidates to a relatively safe 17th position, as well as a place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy semi-final.
The centre-half is only 19 and with his contract with the Royals coming to an end in the summer, Paul Lambert has seen him as a prime candidate to keep on the rather refreshing business of signing young, ambitious players from the lower divisions.
However, the Canaries would have to pay a small fee in compensation as he is under-24, but that should be pittance for a player who is slowly building a reputation, alongside Swindon’s Aden Flint, as one of the most gifted ex-non-league defenders in the fourth tier.
He is Reading’s for the time being though and with that new-investment giving them slightly more weight in the financial side of things they may be hoping to tie the youngster down to a new long-term contract.
West Ham, having slowly remembered that defenders are a part of football following their deadline-day splurge on strikers, have also been rumoured to be casting an eye on Hector.
@AdamGray1250
