Johnson urges young guns to make their mark

THIS season’s steep learning curve will have done some of Athletic’s younger talent the power of good.

Athletic ended the season in fine style, finishing a comfortable 15th thanks to a 10-match unbeaten run.

Johnson said: “Wolves and Brentford were pretty much out there on their own and deserved to go straight up, but we had some decent results against the four clubs in the play-offs. We drew twice with Orient and beat Peterborough, but we need to be doing better against the top sides.

“We did okay against teams in and around us and that served us well in the end, and of course the unbeaten run was a real achievement. With another year, some of the younger lads can go on to make their mark.

“Don’t forget around six or seven lads were given debuts, too. Players like Danny Philliskirk, Rhys Turner and Jordan Bove will be looking to step it up even further next season.”

Philliskirk (23) made a huge impact in what proved to be his breakthrough campaign. The Latics youth graduate rejoined his home-town club last summer after leaving Coventry City, and was a regular starter and the club’s leading scorer, with 12 goals.

Turner (18) made two first-team appearances towards the end of last term after joining Athletic from Stockport County.

Fellow teenager Bove — a prolific scorer for Athletic’s reserves — made the first-team bench several times.