Forest young guns can follow in Heath's footsteps

JOHN Pemberton today told the young players in Nottingham Forest's reserves to follow in the footsteps of Joe Heath by earning themselves a first team chance this season.

The teenage full-back was the latest in a line of youngsters to make the step up from the 'development group' at the City Ground, when he was thrown into the starting line-up against Birmingham.

But, with the likes of James Reid, Adam Newbold, Hamza Bencherif and Mark Byrne all regarded as being bright prospects, reserve team manager Pemberton hopes they will follow the example set not only by Heath but by Matt Thornhill, Garath McCleary, Lewis McGugan and Emile Sinclair before him.

"It is encouraging to see the likes of Heath get their chance. It is good for the players," said Pemberton, whose reserve side held an experience Sheffield United side to a 0-0 draw yesterday.

"It is good that they have a manager who is brave enough to put them in, certainly in a game like that. It is also fantastic for the others, because we can say to them 'stick at it and you might get your chance'.

"We can say that to them knowing we are telling the truth, because they do get their opportunity here. Matt Thornhill is one, Garath McCleary has as well. People are getting their chances.

"That was the disappointing thing about yesterday, in the sense that, if you looked at the side and asked who could get chucked in (to the first team), it would be hard to say, because we were poor. But it is always good when young players get a chance."

Pemberton admits he was looking on anxiously as Heath made a nervous start against Birmingham, with a couple of wayward touches – but always had faith in the full-back to turn it round.

"We all sat together to discuss the team on Friday and we knew Lynch was ill. We knew we had to make one or two changes," he said.

"But we decided to give Heathy a go, to chuck him in there. After the first five minutes, I was worried – but to be fair to him he is a brave boy, he stuck at it and he got better and better as the game went on.

"He got involved at the other end as well, but he has been brought through that way. If you look at modern teams they have all got great full-backs. That is the way that the game is going. They have to be an attacking option. Joe can certainly do that because he has a quality left foot and can deliver. He will stick balls in the right areas."

Pemberton also praised goalkeeper Paul Smith for his performance and attitude after finding himself frozen out of the first team picture following the arrival of Lee Camp on loan from QPR.

"It is all about attitude and, to be fair to Smudger, he has been asked to play in the reserves and he has done things properly," he said. "That is all you can ask. He made some good saves."