5 days ago
Sligo Rovers whizz kid living up to the hype.
John Russell reckons the sky is the limit for Sligo Rovers' whizz-kid striker Owen Elding.
The club has turned into a factory of talent in recent years, producing Johnny Kenny as well as Elding from their youth system, while reinvigorating the careers of Max Mata and Aidan Keana.
Yet Elding could be the best of the lot - the 19-year-old taking this season by storm, getting seven goals to his name already, including a wonder strike last weekend against Shelbourne in Sligo's 3-2 defeat.
And boss Russell is excited by what lies ahead.
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He said: 'He is a fabulous talent and you could see in pre-season the way he came back that he had a big year ahead of him and that was why we spoke to the club and said, 'look we need to tie him to a long term contract'.
'I have known Owen since he was 11, when I was working as a development officer in the area; I saw him win a Primary Schools All-Ireland with his local school; and he has been in and around the first team since he was 17.
'I have no doubt there was an element of frustration for him last year, in that he made 25 appearances but only two or three of those were starts.
'But you have to be patient with young players and he has shown everyone what he is about this season and now we can see that he is impacting every game.
'What I love about him most is his mentality.
'Even last week, when we went 3-1 down to Shels, his attitude was 'give me the ball, I am going to make something happen'. When someone does that, that is when you know you have got a proper player and for a kid who has just turned 19, you know he has got a bright future.'
The question now is how far can he go in the game.
Russell says: 'Owen always showed promise but the question always is, when you enter the men's game, can you perform and step up to that level? He has shown he is progressing nicely over the last 18 months and is one of the most exciting and most creative young players in the league.'
Yet he may not even be the best teenager in League of Ireland football right now as Spurs-bound Mason Melia and Shamrock Rovers striker Michael Noonan are absolutely flying.
What a contrast that is from Russell's playing days when experienced pros were in the ascendancy.
So what has changed?
Russell says: 'The difference from then to now is the academy system which was not in place when I was playing.
'Yes, we need more funding in terms of having more full time coaches. But the structures are there and players can come through. That has been a big help.
'In addition, Brexit's law changes means the most outstanding young talents now are in the League of Ireland and in the first team environment at early ages.
'So Owen's development was accelerated by virtue of the fact he wasn't just playing underage football; he was in the first team playing friendlies, training full time, and when that happens, you get to a point when you are standing out.
'It is not rocket science. We all know what to do. But it is a case of putting that structure in place and I feel we are getting our rewards in the league now. And also I feel with more young coaches being in the league, young players are getting more opportunities now.'
