hard to take the step up if you know one mistake will likely cost you your place in the side, they also need to leave him in pretty much one position so he can get settled, which is why i think he should be told you have 3 or so games to prove yourself, atleast with some pressure of him he might relax a bit
as for your comments he is slow and weak, i dont think he is slow, ive seen him go in for the ball when its his turn and as for awareness i agree he can be a bit unaware of his surrounds but how many times does brown get caught? how better to gain awarness (like bell is) other than to play a number of games in the senoirs to get use to the pace of the game