Dickov set to hand youth its chance

James Tarkowski: back in training for his first season as a full pro

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Philliskirk backs defensive pair to shine

ATHLETIC’S squad looks set to be younger than ever this season.

Second-year scholar Ryan Burns already has experience of the realities of life in npower League One, turning out from the start during the victory at Swindon Town in April.

No doubt the young Northern Irish winger relayed his experience of the professional game to fellow sophomore David Mellor as the duo joined in with first-team training yesterday.

Compared to that pair, James Tarkowski and Carl Winchester — the latter player signed a two-year deal yesterday to move into the professional ranks — are seasoned veterans with a total of 15 appearances under manager Paul Dickov.

With Matty Carr and winger Connor Hughes also entering their first seasons as pros, it is conceivable that in the coming weeks no less than SIX of Tony Philliskirk's youth-team squad from last term could be on the field all at once for Athletic in a forthcoming friendly.

Kirk Millar is only excluded from that group by virtue of his penning a pro deal at the end of his first term as a scholar 12 months ago. And you can add to the mix Djeny Bembo, Phil McGrath, Ryan Brooke, Paul Black and Chris Taylor as others who have worked their way up through the system.

It is quite an achievement — one that serves as a source of pride not only for the players and their families, but for Philliskirk himself and the work that goes on behind the scenes in the youth set-up.

While the knock-on effect is that the situation leaves the under-18s scratching around for players, the operator-in-chief of Athletic's production line of talent is delighted to see players given their chance.

Heady thoughts of starting the season as a conceivable centre-back pairing under Paul Dickov were far removed from the thoughts of Carr and Tarkowski midway through the 2010-11 season.

While the tall Carr was experiencing patchy fortunes on the field, late-season first-team regular Tarkowski was recovering from gruesome-sounding surgery on his feet.

It wasn't the first time the teenager had suffered in his career, either.

"As an under-16, James broke his leg and missed virtually all of that age group," Philliskirk explained.

"At the time it was a gamble to take him on. He then had a very steady first year before major surgery to correct his feet, which were too wide. We couldn't get boots to fit him.

"After taking four or five months off he only started back with us again in January of this year — and then found his way into being a first-team regular.

"He has missed a lot of football and a good pre-season will benefit him so much.

"He is a lovely lad and he and Matty are big mates who have come through the ranks together, which should help them if they end up playing together in pre-season."

As for Carr, Philliskirk reckons the former midfielder has the perfect attitude towards the game.

"Matty deserves his chance and he showed when he was with the reserves and then the first team the potential he has got.

"He is very reliable and someone who has a good attitude.

"He buses it in from Bury every day and is rarely if ever late.

"Matty had to learn to play at centre-back as he had never done so before.

"We recognised that as a big lad perhaps the game was a bit too quick for him in midfield. He had to take in a lot in a short space of time to play as a centre-back and still has plenty to learn.

"He will find it difficult at times. But he is a clever lad who wants to succeed."