Liam reflects on his first-team debut
It may have only lasted three minutes, but Liam Jacob says it was a massive thrill to make his first-team debut for Latics.The 18-year-old Aussie goalkeeper was unexpectedly thrust into action in stoppage time in yesterday's npower League One match at Doncaster Rovers when Dean Bouzanis was sent off.
"It was great to have a little go and experience first-team football, if only for three minutes," explained the Sydney-born Jacob.
Since signing for Latics in the summer after being released by Manchester United, Jacob hasn't had so much as a sniff of first-team action because of the presence of Bouzanis and Alex Cisak who are ahead of him.
He explained: "When Cisak went on loan to Portsmouth, I knew I had a chance to be involved with the first team.
"I only expected to be on the bench which was the next part of the learning curve.
"That is different to watching first-team games from the stand, knowing you are part of it and with the responsibility of being ready if needed.
"I didn't expect it to come along so quickly in only my second game with the first team."
Jacob says there were no butterflies, something undoubtedly due to being thrust into the action so quickly due to the sending off.
He explained: "I felt confident and calm and was completely focused.
"I was not thinking about anything but the game."
Jacob said he took the confidence gained last night into today's reserve-team match against Wrexham when he pulled off a string of fine saves.
He added it has been a great spell as he only recently returned from representing Australia under-20's in the Asian qualifiers for the under-20 World Cup.
"The past few weeks have been unreal and footballers live for these moments," he said.