McGugan urges youngsters to follow

3rd December 2008

Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan has urged the club's young stars to follow the example of teenage defender Brendan Moloney.

The 19-year-old made his first start of the season for Colin Calderwood's side in the 1-0 victory over Barnsley on Saturday, following a successful loan spell at Blue Square Premier side Rushden.

McGugan, an established first-team regular at the age of 20, was impressed with Moloney's display and believes Forest's other youngsters can take heart from the Irishman's progress.

He told the Nottingham Evening Post: "It just shows the gaffer is not scared to throw you in. If he thinks you are ready, you are in there and that gives everyone that added incentive to really try and prove themselves in every reserve team game and every youth team game.

"A lot of people take loans as a negative but he (Moloney) has gone there (Rushden), there is nothing he can do about it and he has to prove himself. He has proved himself, come back and that has got him his chance.

"That proves you have to keep on going because one week you can be in the Conference and the next playing in the Championship."