Striker Brad Rolt is keen to build on good start for the under 18s and believes experience during pre-season can help his development.
Harrison Burrows has already tasted first team experience and on Tuesday evening, defender Sam Cartwright, midfielder Kyle Barker and striker Ricky-Jade Jones made it four Academy graduates to make their debuts for Darren Ferguson’s side within the first two months of the season.
Ferguson has always been an advocate of promoting from within and giving young players opportunity in the first team picture. “If they are good enough, age is not an issue,’ has always been his approach. That pathway is important for young players. It can be used as an incentive; those players know that the opportunity is there, it is down to them as individuals to grasp it.
For under 18s striker Brad Rolt, he is hoping his chance will come. He was given a taste of first team experience during pre-season when he came on as a second half substitute in the friendly fixture with Deeping Rangers. He not only caught the eye with his pace, he also managed to notch a goal in a big win for Ferguson’s men.
“It was an unreal experience,” Rolt said. “I was able to show the first team management and the other players what I could do and it was great to score. It is a motivation for me, I know there is a pathway there and you do have a little chance to take an opportunity. That is one of the real positives at this football club, there are no closed doors, nothing will stop you from progressing but yourself.
“I have been enjoying my football. I have scored a few goals and the team are winning games, but we know that we can improve, we have let a few points slip through our grasp and that is frustrating but we know that the performances in the main have been good. For me personally, I have been happy with my start, I have my own targets when it comes to goals. I am ambitious, it would be great to get to 20 by Christmas, I think I can get there.”
The under 18s are managed by Matthew Etherington with former Posh team-mates and ex-Wales international Simon Davies his assistant. Rolt admits that the pair have helped his game improve and their experience in the game has aided his development.
“Sometimes it is a little surreal because you know who they are and what they have achieved in the game but you have just got to look at it like they are just your coach and they are there to help you. They have done that. I have to make sure, like the rest of the team, that I listen and take it all in,” Rolt added.