Baxter still striving to make his mark

STARTING AGAIN: Jose Baxter hopes to resurrect his career at Boundary Park.

JOSE Baxter hasn’t yet managed to shake off the weight of expectations.

Four years ago the squat, powerful forward with a sharp football mind made the journey from working-class lad from Bootle to Everton first-team player.

Baxter was 16 when he turned out against Blackburn on the opening day of the 2008-09 season.

Quite an easy reach, then, for the comparison with Wayne Rooney, who was only 105 days his elder when he began in the Premier League.

Unlike the man who grew up to become a megastar, Baxter never managed to make the transition from talented teenager to league hero. Even so the ‘new Rooney’ comparison has remained with him.

It isn’t that many people still believe Baxter can attain the same level as the United superstar.

It is more that he hasn’t yet done enough to be known in his own right. A successful spell at Tranmere apart, the 20 year old has played only 30 games of professional football.

Why Athletic? Why now? Baxter could have stayed at Goodison Park. He was offered a new two-year deal and with it, the chance to stick around in a comfortable environment.

But for a clue over his choice to move, back to Tranmere. James Wallace grew up in the same youth team as Baxter at Everton and made his first-team debut for the club a season later.

Midfielder Wallace’s progress was hampered by injury and he had spells out on loan at Stockport and Shrewsbury.

These days, at 20, Wallace is Tranmere’s captain and will have his pick of Championship clubs if his current employers don’t get promotion.

His manager, ex-Athletic boss Ronnie Moore, said at the time of his signing this summer: “By choosing to join us, he’s given himself a chance to play another 50 games by this time next year.

“If he had stayed with Everton it would have been a battle for him to get into the first-team.”

Wallace is said to have been revitalised at Tranmere. Athletic boss Paul Dickov will no doubt have made the same points during talks with a player striving to make a mark on the game.




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