The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dark Blues youngsters impress
Kerr Waddell was Dundee’s two-goal star man against Hearts at Dens on Saturday but boss Neil McCann has revealed the humble hero still changes with the U20s at the club.
The 19-year-old defender has made his breakthrough this season and quickly established himself as a key player for the club.
He has shown youngsters at the club what can be achieved if they work hard, and McCann wants other kids to emulate him.
The likes of Jack Lambert, Matty Henvey and Jordan Piggott have all been involved with the first team, with Jimmy Boyle’s U20s currently top of the Development League. McCann said: “They’re doing brilliantly. “There are a lot of boys there who have improved rapidly from the start of the season because I felt coming into this season there wasn’t an awful lot who were pushing.
“Jimmy Boyle has recruited well and he works really hard with them. We’ve had the luxury and the benefit of bringing one or two of them into the squad.
“I always think that’s important, coming into that environment gives them a wee taste of it. Henvey, Lambert, Piggott have had a wee taste of first-team training and on the bench as well,” McCann said.
“I think that’s having a direct impact on the team because they and Jimmy know there is a direct link to the first team.
“There has to be that, but they have to earn the right to get in there.
“Any time the boys have come up, they’ve coped with it well. I think that is helping the Under-20s but it’s where we want to go as a club.
“It’s really important we are building a reserve, so we’re not throwing a young lad in who knows nothing about the environment and coming in like rabbits in the headlights.
“They’ve been in and about the group and there’s even been a bit of craic about them, which shows there’s a comfort level there and an understanding of what’s required.
“Kerr Waddell still changes with the kids. He’s such a brilliant kid, he’s such a humble boy and that helps, having a bit of humility about you, because you still understand there’s a lot to come.”