George Earthy has 'exciting future ahead of him', says Bristol City boss Manning (2025)

George Earthy has scored three Championship goals during his loan spell with Bristol City

Liam Manning has admitted he'd "love to" sign George Earthy permanently, insisting the West Ham United loanee fits the profile of player needed at Bristol City following his first-half equaliser against QPR.

The attacking midfielder scored his third goal of the season as the Robins came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Hoops at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon. Karamoko Dembele headed Marti Cifuentes' side into the lead after just 21 minutes but Earthy ensured the points would be shared when he combined well with Max Bird to find a leveller just nine minutes later.

Having been slipped behind the Rangers' backline, the 20-year-old calmly rolled the ball past Paul Nardi and into the bottom right corner with the outside of his right boot to keep City fifth in the Championship with just four matches left to play this season. Although it has taken the Irons prospect a few months to find his feet in BS3, Manning was quick to laud him for the way in which he has adapted to the second tier.

"I think George has been outstanding for us," the head coach said in his post-match press conference at Loftus Road. "You look at a lot of players, especially young lads going on first loans from Premier League teams, they don't always go that great. I think it speaks volumes about him and his character.

"If you look at West Ham, he's probably got a lower level of expectation to play or pressure to play because of the level of it. I think he comes on loan and all of a sudden that expectation to play changes. I think some young players struggle to cope with being in the team, not in the team and how they deal with that and he's had to be really patient this season. But credit to him, what I think one of his biggest strengths is his attitude and how he is as a person.

"He turns up, every single day and works hard, loves the game, and is desperate to do extras. He'll be one of those where I think he'll reflect at the end of the season with it being a real big positive because he's got a really exciting future ahead of him."

Earthy joined the Reds on a season-long loan from West Ham during the summer transfer window and the attacking midfielder is understood to be highly thought of at the London Stadium. The initial intention of the 20-year-old's spell with the Robins was to help him prepare for the Premier League in future seasons.

Since scoring his first two City goals off of the bench in Manning's side's win over Middlesbrough back in February, the England youth international hasn't looked back. In recent weeks, he has managed to form a brilliant attacking midfield partnership with Bird that has seen the pairing start each of the Reds' last three matches, with top scorer Anis Mehmeti and summer signing Scott Twine both forced to settle for a place on the bench at Loftus Road.

When asked by Bristol Live following City's win over Watford whether or not he would be keen to work with Earthy again next season, Manning simply responded: "We'll see in the summer," before confirming conversations had yet to begin around that possibility.

Following Saturday's win over the Hoops, the head coach was again asked if he'd like to sign the 20-year-old permanently, particularly if the Reds were promoted, and replied: "Who knows? I'd love to.

"I think he's great, I think he fits the profile, I think he's developing, he's getting better, he's got an exciting future ahead of him, suits how we play and what we want to do. But they're discussions that happen behind the scenes."