Lindsay hasthe mindset to hit top: Magilton
IN a matter of weeks, Northern Ireland teenagers have been snapped up by Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Liverpool and Rangers. It can’t be a coincidence. First came Linfield duo Charlie Allen and Dale Taylor’s respective switches to Championship clubs Leeds and Forest.
Then Dungannon Swifts star Michael Forbes’ move to the Hammers was confirmed, shortly before news broke of his former clubmate Conor Bradley’s impending professional contract at Anfield.
The latest to seal a deal in the professional game is 16-year-old Glentoran ace Charlie Lindsay, who joined the Gers last week.
The lengthening list is an ever-more impressive advert for the work of the Irish FA’S Club NI set-up, under the stewardship of Elite Performance Director Jim Magilton.
But he’s not content for his young stars to be snapped up and see it as success.
Rather, he’s keen to see the likes of Lindsay and Bradley, who have both signed three-year contracts — the maximum duration for players of their age — push on to reach the very top level.
More than that, Magilton reckons they have the characteristics to do just that.
“Without heaping too much pressure on Charlie, he has a great chance, just like Conor at Liverpool,” the former Ipswich boss said.
“It’s just how they develop. They’re going to have their setbacks and it’s all part of their learning curve.
“It’s all about their ability to adapt.
“Both of them have unbelievable mindsets and that’s what sets them apart.
“They want to practice. For some kids, 10 minutes is enough but those guys spend hours working on it.
“Both need lots of work, for example in the final third with their deliveries, but it’s all part of their learning.”
Lindsay became Glentoran’s youngest ever senior player when he made his debut aged 15 years, five months and 24 days against Ballyclare Comrades in the County Antrim Shield in September.
It wasn’t the last time he made headlines during the season.
Having previously agreed his move to Rangers, the Cregagh lad has been eligible to play for the club’s youth teams and in February captained the U17s at the prestigious Alkass International Cup in Qatar.
Against the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and PSG, Lindsay was named Player of the Tournament.
It was easy to see why, having been joint top scorer and named man of the match in four of his side’s five matches.
“He’s an outstanding player, absolutely outstanding,” said Magilton (right).
“Charlie has this incredible ability.
“He’s a throwback because he actually runs by people with the ball. He’s a dribbler.
“Coaches can coach that out of kids by telling them to pass, pass, pass but Charlie’s a dribbler.
“He’s a bit like Charlie Allen, who’s like that as well.
“He’s as quick with it as he is without it. He’s lightning. He’s going to a club that he loves and into an environment that is a fantastic academy, pushing kids through.
“Rangers have always had a proud tradition of doing that.”
Magilton knows all about the opportunity and the trials facing the teenagers who move across the water, having himself signed for Liverpool in 1986.
However, he reckons that young Northern Ireland talent has never been better prepared for life at the top.
“They’ve all been exposed at early ages to competition,” he explained.
“We’ve exposed them to these unbelievable opportunities in which they’re playing against the top kids and top teams in Europe.
“They’ve all had experiences of the levels that are needed.
“We have to be hard on them because the best will always rise and that’s what we’ve found.
“When they walk into a club in England, they’re assessed immediately and they only get one chance to make an impression.
“The exposure these guys are getting now through the scouts like Phil Cowen at Rangers, it’s another secret to this. They get used to it.
“When I went over, it was the first time I’d been anywhere like that. This is great for them.
“There’s a lot of good work going on at the local clubs, our work, the scouts and we have a product now that is competitive. Parents are preparing them too. They’re building that resilience.”
It’s a multi-faceted approach and has certainly borne fruit with this summer’s swoops.
Now the hard work really begins.