Phillip’s taste of the big time

SCHOLAR Phillip McGrath admits his first senior call-up for Athletic has given him the hunger for more opportunities in the big time.

An injury crisis opened the door for the 17-year-old Belfast boy who, along with Djeny Bembo-Leta and Hungarian teenager David Kalnoki-Kis, was on the substitutes’ bench for Saturday's Coca-Cola League One match at Brentford.

Winger McGrath had to cancel a trip home to Northern Ireland but said: "It was well worth it.

"It was very exciting travelling with the first team and seeing what happens on a match day and the preparation which takes place.

"We trained with the first team when we stopped off on the way to London and it has been good to get to know the players better.

"It was a little intimidating at first, but they are a friendly group and they made us feel comfortable.

"It has made me feel hungry and made me want to experience that every week so I will have to see what happens."

McGrath, who has been capped by Northern Ireland at junior level, joined Athletic from Glenavon - the club for whom former Athletic ’keeper David Miskelly once played - in the summer of 2008.