Debut for first-year scholar
First-year scholar Jack Truelove is still pinching himself after being handed his first-team debut in Saturday's npower League One match at Leyton Orient.The 17-year-old left-back (pictured) was introduced as an 80th minute substitute at the Matchroom Stadium.
"It was a massive shock and I don't think it has sunk in yet what has happened," he said.
Yet 30 hours earlier, Truelove has no inkling as to what was about to happen.
Truelove explained: "I turned up on Friday morning expecting to train with the youth team.
"The manager told me to go back to my digs to get my tracksuit as I was travelling with the first team to Leyton Orient.
"Not only that but he also said I would be on the bench."
And it got even better when Truelove replaced Connor Brown late in the game.
He says playing in front of a crowd of over 5,000 provided an atmosphere he had never experienced before.
As to his cameo, Truelove was happy how he did.
He said: "I felt I did well and tried to get forward whenever I could. I also felt more confident as the game wore on.
"The game was a lot more physical than I was used to and the pace was also quicker.
"I was also up against Dean Cox and Moses Odubajo, who were continually changing wings and they were a good test for me."
Truelove joined home-town club Burnley as an under-eight and was released when he was under-16's.
He joined Latics towards the end of the under-16's season and was soon offered a scholarship.
Truelove, who can also play centre back, added he has trained a number of times with the first team in the season just ended.
And he says he has tried to learn from left-back Jonathan Grounds, both on the training ground and watching him in matches.