'Obscene' academy star could get more first-team chances
The young defender impressed all the right people after making his debut last week
Age might only be a number, but Jack Burke’s impressive first start for MK Dons raised more than an eyebrow for boss Paul Warne.
The 16-year-old made a big impression on the first-team coaches after his performance in the 4-0 Vertu Trophy defeat to Swindon Town last week, not least for his performance in the heart of Dons’ defence on the night.
Citing his position and his age, Warne said Burke’s full debut looked even more impressive given how few young players thrive doing what he did.
“To be doing that at 16 is obscene, really, and even more so for a centre-half,” said the head coach. “As a winger or a centre-forward who doesn’t get much contact but is quick, you might get away with it.
“All the great players who have played at an early age, I don’t think there’s many centre-halves. Predominantly, that’s the most physical part of the pitch.
“We played him between two seniors which helped but he didn’t look like a junior. I thought he did really well, and was brave enough in the second-half to hit diagonals, and try to clip us in down the sides, made tackles when he needed to.
“I think he would have slept well afterwards! It will do him no end of good and it will do his confidence no end of good.
“It would raise a lot of eyebrows if I suggested sending him on loan to go and play men’s football somewhere, but he’s done more than that - he’s played professional football. May it be the start of a really great journey for him.”
While Burke is set to remain with the academy, Warne said he made a big impression on the first-team, and is keen to see him join in with training again.
He added: “The lads like him, which is really important because if we can we’ll try and get him in to train with the first-team more. When all of a sudden you’ve got Mendez-Laing doing step overs in front of you in training, it can’t but help you.
“He should be really proud of the way he conducted himself, and has done since we got here is a credit to his family. I thought he was tops.”