Stephen Robinson, the Motherwell manager, insists youngster Allan Campbell is the latest academy graduate to prove there is a route to first-team football if you are good enough.
The 20-year-old started his second successive Premiership match as the Lanarkshire side came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Hibs on Saturday and Campbell did not let Robinson down after delivering an assured performance in midfield.
Despite recruiting 16 new players during the summer, Robinson insists he will never close the door on any homegrown talent and is delighted with the impact Campbell has made.
He said: “It’s fantastic, another boy coming through the academy and we’ve got a few of them, Chris Cadden, Adam Livingston is on the outskirts, Ross MacLean. Allan was terrific on Saturday, he is getting better and better. His challenge is to make sure he keeps that consistency going.”
Robinson is delighted with the options he has at his disposal after Craig Tanner and Gael Bigirimana both came off the bench to play their part in the draw as Louis Moult took his tally for the season to seven with a second-half brace.
Robinson, whose side face Aberdeen in a Betfred Cup and Premiership double header this week, added:
“It does not matter who they are, whether it’s Carl McHugh, the captain, or the youngest player in the squad. There are places up for grabs.”
As for Saturday’s draw, Robinson said: “That was the best performance of the season. At 2-0 down away to Hibs, I think a lot of teams would’ve folded but it’s the character in this team not to give up.”
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