"I am pleased to say we've been able to beat all the others for his signature.

"Normally when you sign boys of this age you do not get a lot of publicity but we have had to fight off some big competition for his signature.

"He is a very talented boy. He has things in his make up that you are normally trying to teach to people at this age.

"I am talking about the runs he makes, his touch and his awareness. Normally you are spending time trying to install those things into 17-year-olds.

"He does a lot of those things naturally and he has a very good left foot."

Graham Taylor, October 2002