Hill's patience 'finally been rewarded'

"Be patient, and your time will come" is a common football aphorism. James Hill's career has likely featured variations on that phrase, but the Bournemouth defender's patience has now been rewarded with his longest run in the team, in which he has looked increasingly assured at Premier League level.

Hill is only 23, yet his career began when he became Fleetwood Town's youngest ever player aged 16. He was a few days short of his 20th birthday when Bournemouth came calling in January 2022, with the Cod Army receiving a club-record £1m fee.

Earmarked as "one for the future", Hill made just one late substitute appearance under Scott Parker that season, looking on from the bench as promotion to the top flight was secured.

Restricted to two League Cup appearances in 2022-23, Hill did not play a league game under Parker's successor Gary O'Neil, and was loaned out to Hearts for the second half of the season.

When Andoni Iraola replaced O'Neil, Hill made his Premier League debut as a substitute on the opening day of 2023-24, but soon found himself back in the Championship, joining Blackburn on loan.

Hill impressed in both of those temporary moves, with both Hearts and Blackburn interested in keeping him for longer, but Bournemouth always saw him as a long-term investment.

Recalled in January 2024, Hill finally made his first Cherries league start two years after signing, though patience was again a virtue as just three more substitute outings came in the second half of the season.

Hill would have been forgiven for wondering if his chance would ever come, having seen several centre-backs – Marcos Senesi, Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen – arrive from overseas, the latter two younger than Hill.

However, it was telling that last summer, with five central defenders on the books, it was Chris Mepham who was loaned out, with Hill retained.

The squad's injury problems meant Hill's chance came in December, and he has not looked back. Despite the lack of cover at right-back, he impressed enough at that position to allow Max Aarons to leave on loan, while Zabarnyi's recent suspension thrust Hill into the centre alongside Huijsen, and gave a particularly assured display at Tottenham on Sunday.

His adaptability will be key as Iraola attempts to navigate the squad through their next few games. With Zabarnyi now available, Hill may find himself at right-back against Brentford on Saturday, but should be back in the centre for the FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester City, which Huijsen must sit out through suspension.

Hill's patience has well and truly paid off.