True team player

DEAN Holden highlighted what was for him a key satisfaction follwing the club’s youth side success on Monday.

After the four-goal crushing of MK Dons, the under-18s took part in an on-field presentation. Team spirit was high when Callum Etches’ brilliant strike made it 4-0 and he raced to the bench to celebrate with his team-mates, coaching staff and substitutes.

But for Holden, captain Jack Tuohy provided the golden moment.

“They were great the other night, weren’t they?” Holden said. “I really liked it when Callum Etches raced towards the bench. But the best moment wasn’t the goals or even the win; it was when Jack was asked by a photographer to lift the trophy and refused to do it on his own. He made sure he was with the rest of his team-mates before holding it up. You can tell an awful lot about a person from a moment like that.”

As for the chances of Tuohy and Devante Jacobs — both offered professional terms for next season — getting game-time in Sunday’s fixture against Peterborough, Holden admitted he is keen.

“It would be great to get the younger lads involved,” he added.

“Being around the squad, even if you are not actually playing, is part of the growing-up process and I know from when I was a young player how valuable that experience can be.”