sport

MEGSON ENVIES BORO ACADEMY

Megson - academy worry.

Gary Megson admits Bolton may never come close to the number of homegrown players produced by Middlesbrough's academy in recent seasons.

Boro's academy has become famed for its success in nurturing youngsters and Gareth Southgate has certainly not been afraid to hand players opportunities to shine in the Barclays Premier League.

Indeed, Southgate has flooded his team with youth, allowing the likes of David Wheater, Andrew Taylor and Ross Turnbull to join England winger Stewart Downing as first-team regulars at the Riverside Stadium.

But, while Boro's squad is overflowing with homegrown youngsters eager to make their mark, Bolton's academy has had little success in recent seasons.

Since the Trotters were promoted to the top flight in 2001, only skipper Kevin Nolan has progressed from the youth system to become a first-team regular at the Reebok Stadium.

Academy manager Chris Sulley left his post after eight years in April and Jimmy Phillips took over but Megson admits the former Bolton defender's task could prove difficult due to the number of clubs competing for players in the north west.

Megson - who takes his side to the Riverside on Saturday - said: "One of the issues we have at this football club is the academy and I can't see too many being ready for the first team for a while.

"Jimmy Phillips has come in with a brief and hopefully he can achieve that.

"But in this area it's probably as hard as it could be anywhere in the world.

"We are stuck in between Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and even Crewe.

"A lot of players go to Crewe because they know they will get the opportunity to play and then move on.

"In the north west, it's really, really difficult getting young players into the team because there is such competition.

"I would have thought that's the case in London as well.

"In Middlesbrough, I'm not sure that's the case.

"You have Newcastle and Sunderland close by but, aside from that, there is not a huge amount."

Megson admits he is an admirer of Middlesbrough and paid tribute to Southgate's desire to blood youngsters.

"They have got some good ones there - the likes of Wheater, Taylor and Downing is probably the most famous one," said Megson.

"Gareth has done well and I think he's got one of the best chairmen in the country in Steve Gibson.

"The club looks really solid in terms of the way that it's run.

"There are no knee-jerk reactions to problems when it's not going particularly well.

"On the other side of the coin, there is no shouting from the rooftops when it is going well.

"They are ticking along quite nicely. I saw them against Everton last week and they did well."