Peters claims Heerenveen’s left-back berth

Expected to wait, Jens Peters has instead stepped into sc Heerenveen’s left-back slot. The 19-year-old has started twice this cycle, having had no starts before it, and his average rating of 7.3 gives the breakthrough substance beyond the simple change in selection.

Peters has taken the place usually held by Sulayman Dampha. There are no goals or assists to decorate the figures, but a left-back’s first task is often quieter: settle into the team, make the position his own and keep earning the next start. Two appearances are a beginning, not a verdict; the rating suggests he has handled the opportunity well.

There is a particular warmth to this step for a player who supports sc Heerenveen. Peters has been with the club since 2060/61 and has made 15 appearances for them across that period. Now, at 19, he has reached the point where familiarity with the badge meets responsibility in the eleven.

The next measure is whether these starts become a regular place, rather than a brief opening. For now, Heerenveen have a young left-back producing encouraging numbers in a slot that belonged to Dampha. Peters has made the first case for himself; the promise lies in what he can build from it.