I’ll always give kids a chance – Keane

Feb 13 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ROY Keane is adamant he will always look to give Sunderland’s promising youngsters a chance in the first team as the Academy side prepare to take on holders Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup at the Stadium of Light tonight.

Keane has already given a first-team debut to 18-year-old striker Martyn Waghorn this season and has also predicted that another youth team graduate, Grant Leadbitter, can have a big future in the game.

And the former Manchester United skipper, who saw the benefits of a productive youth system when he was at Old Trafford, believes Sunderland desperately need to start producing players if they are going to establish themselves in the Premier League.

As a result, the Irishman – who also saw his mentor Brian Clough pay close attention to the development of young talent – has established a good link with the Academy set-up at Sunderland and will continue to involve the most promising players in the first team to aid their development.

“I’ll definitely be watching the Youth Cup game and young kids will always get a chance at this football club,” said Keane, who gave his squad three days off at the start of the week following their 2-0 win over Wigan last weekend. “That’s the future of the club, without a shadow of a doubt.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think I’ve spent a few bob, but we are always looking at our kids and planning for the future. Three or four of them signed a new contract last week and a couple of them travelled down to Liverpool with the first team

a couple of weeks ago. “I’ve got great interest in the youths at the club and the reserves. They’re vital for the club, and we’re hoping eventually that we’ll produce more and more young players. But the club has generally done well in that respect over the last couple of years anyway. All you’re hoping for is one or two a season.”

Waghorn is the obvious star of the Academy side because of his elevation to the first-team squad and his start against Manchester United on Boxing Day, but he is not the only one Keane has his eye on.

Other youngsters like midfielders Jordan Henderson, Conor Hourihane and Jack Colback have also been included in first-team squads in the Premier League and Keane believes the introduction of seven substitutes on the bench in English football from next season will help bring more young talent through as they will be able to gain more hands-on first-team experience.

He explained: “Martyn Waghorn has played for the first team this season and I also gave one or two of the young lads a game when we played a friendly up in Scotland. They’ve been involved, and they know that, if they’re doing well, they’ll be in my first-team squad. That will especially be the case next year when we’ll be naming seven substitutes.

“I took two young kids as part of an 18-man squad to Liverpool last week, but they had to sit in the stand. Next season, I’ll be able to name them as part of my substitutes. The kids have a great chance at this club if they keep their heads down and work hard every day.”

Meanwhile, three players have been named in the Actim Index team of the week following the win over Wigan Athletic last Saturday. Defender Jonny Evans was the second top-scoring defender in the country according to the Premier League’s official index. And he was joined by Black Cats goalscorer Dickson Etuhu and captain Dean Whitehead.