Young guns given chance to shine

Chris Sutherland has already made the breakthrough to first-team level.

OLDHAM Athletic’s youth team boss Tony Philliskirk has revealed which of the club’s junior players will be given pro terms for 2013-14 - which will start for Atletic on Saturday, August 3).

Four players will be first-team players next season: Luke Simpson, Joe Cooper, Danny Gosset and Chris Sutherland.

Philliskirk ran down their attributes:

Luke Simpson (goalkeeper from Heywood, with Athletic since under-10s): “He is crazy! That may well be a prerequisite for a goalkeeper. Luke is a very, very brave lad. He has developed very well and he trains like a Trojan.

"His potential is huge and we hope he will be pushing towards the first-team soon."



Joe Cooper (defender from Springhead, with Athletic since under-nines): "Since the manager has come in, Joe has trained with the first team almost every day. He obviously likes what he has seen of him and with good reason.

"Joe has been unfortunate to have missed a lot of matches through injury. He is quick, very good on the ball and extremely brave in possession for a centre-back.



Danny Gosset (midfielder from Gwynedd, North Wales, with Athletic since

under-13s): "Danny is a player who has come on rapidly across the last six months. He has reached the stage where he is strongly influencing games from midfield.

"Danny is blessed with two good feet, is tough in the tackle and has a great shot on him.”



Chris Sutherland (winger from Middleton, with Athletic since under-12s): "Chris is someone a lot of supporters will know plenty about due to his involvement in 10 first-team matches. He is quick and direct and has been unfortunate with injuries.

“The manager realises there is something there with him — his pace is express."