Jack revels under hero Sheridan

Jack Tuohy

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HE GREW up planning to be better than Wayne Rooney and now, he’s playing for his real hero.

Jack Tuohy (19), a first-year Athletic professional and lifelong fan who idolised John Sheridan, made a positive impression for his home-town club last week at Barnsley.

The midfielder has played for Athletic’s first-team before — as a replacement in a dead rubber on the final day of last season against Peterborough and again as a sub in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Shrewsbury this term — but Oakwell was a different experience entirely.

In the middle of a relegation battle, Sheridan turned the diminutive teenager when he needed to make a half-time replacement for Mike Jones.

And as the game entered its closing stages with his side 2-1 down, Sheridan showed his belief in the former Heyside Juniors hot-shot by demanding he should deliver a late free-kick into the penalty area, rather than his skipper Liam Kelly.

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“I only put him on at Barnsley as he told me last week I was his favourite player,” Sheridan joked. “I like him. I put him on as if I went three up front, I could put Tuohy in the middle with Liam Kelly and Timothee Dieng.

“He has a little streak in him which I like in players. He trains properly and has a good attitude as a young player coming through.

“He has something to offer and the little bits he got involved in at Barnsley, he did alright.

“I am not frightened of giving a young player a chance. I was telling him to get on the ball and take the free-kick at the end.

“You have to grow up and be confident and he hit a great free-kick in the end.

“He has a long way to go, but he enjoys training and being a footballer.”

The first player to come through the ranks as a bona fide Athletic fan since Chris Taylor — a player he might line up against at Millwall later this month — Tuohy grew up in a Latics-mad household and once hit 104 goals in 80 games as an eight-year-old, before signing for Blackburn Rovers who at the time were a Premier League club.

“I’ve told him if he keeps working hard he might end up like Wayne Rooney,” said dad Shaun at the time.

“Wayne Rooney! I'm going to be better than him," came the reply, from a youngster always blessed with plenty of confidence.

Blackburn didn’t work out, but Athletic scout Paul Ogden snapped up Jack as a 14-year-old after spotting him star at county trials.

The former Crompton House pupil has hardly looked back since, developing into a two-footed playmaker and set-piece specialist, who Sheridan has not been afraid to throw into the fray.

“He has done exceptionally well,” said Athletic’s academy boss Tony Philliskirk.

“There have always been question marks over his stature but for me, week-in and week-out, he was always one of the most consistent performers.

“I have a saying here, ‘don’t act big, play big’. Jack always plays big and he deserved a professional contract based on his ability.

“His loan at Ramsbottom this season did him the world of good, introducing him to men’s football.

“But more than anything, John Sheridan coming back as manager has been a huge boost for Jack.

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“Previous managers have been worried about his stature, but for John all he thinks about is ability and he has such a good track record of giving youngsters their chance.

“His philosophy is, if you are good enough then you will get an opportunity.”

Over to Jack, then, to prove that Rooney is yesterday’s man.