Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DALE WILL WIN TONS
Healy backing 15-year-old to be a massive success in the future
DAVID HEALY believes Linfield teenager Dale Taylor has the ‘mental toughness’ to cope with the demands of senior football.
The 15-year-old scored a sensational goal just four minutes after coming on as a substitute as the Blues fought back from 2-0 down against Cliftonville in the Co Antrim Shield on Tuesday night.
Linfield would eventually lose out on penalties in the quarter-final tie, with Taylor one of the unfortunate players to have his attempt saved in a 4-3 shootout defeat.
Despite the spot-kick misery, Blues boss Healy described Taylor’s display as “exceptional”, and believes the teenage forward has a big future in the game.
“I thought when Dale Taylor came on he was exceptional for someone so young,” Healy (inset) said.
“Dale missed a penalty but he’ll learn more from that than playing a game in the Swifts or junior football.
“He has a really bright future. That’s not me trying to sell him because I hope we have Dale here for a long time. Dale’s a talented boy and the more he is training with Andy Waterworth and Shayne Lavery he’ll pick up good things from them.”
Another teenage talent quickly making a name for himself at Linfield is forward Charlie Allen.
The 15-year-old is being chased by a number of clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.
“Charlie is one that is coming to the attention of other clubs and rightly so, but the pleasing thing is seeing how well they both did when they came on,” Healy added.
“Charlie Allen gave us a spark. Trai Hume and Daniel Reynolds as well, the subs gave us impetus to get back into the game.
“In hindsight you wonder could I have started them but the more experienced players had earned the right to play and wanted to play.”
Asked if he feared throwing the youngsters into what can be a feisty fixture, Healy said: “Absolutely not, especially when they are that talented.
“Dale’s a chunk of a lad and is a strong, tough boy. He’s a Tiger’s Bay boy and is from an area where you need to be tough mentally. Dale has all the attributes.
“Charlie has all the attributes too. He may not have the size and stature yet, but he has absolute quality.”