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Cliftonville boss ponders Coran Madden question as he gives verdict on youngster
He is on the radar of clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, but Jim Magilton is reluctant to heap any more pressure onto Coran Madden's shoulders.
The youngster made his senior Cliftonville debut last Saturday, providing an assist for Rory Hale's goal in the 4-0 win over Loughgall.
Madden is still only 15 years old, but could be set for a big cross-channel move next year when he turns 16.
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He has already been on trial with a host of English Premier League clubs, including City, United, Newcastle United and the Gunners, and the interest is sure to ramp up following his senior bow with Magilton's Cliftonville.
Asked how good Madden can be, the Reds boss said: "We don't know, and that's the honest answer. Anyone who tells you he is going to be this or that is telling lies. You can never tell if a youngster at that age is going to be a great player as they get older.
"What I can tell you is that he is technically very good. Physically he is still growing and maturing. Mentally he is outstanding.
"There has been a lot of talk and hype around Coran for quite some time, so he has to deal with that."
Magilton consulted with his assistant Gerard Lyttle and strength and conditioning coach Ricky McCann before putting Madden on the bench for last Saturday's game against Loughgall.
They introduced the teen forward in the 67th minute, and he teed up Hale for Cliftonville's fourth goal with his first touch of the match.
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"We were finding the right time to give Coran some senior minutes, and he has been in and around the squad and first-team training, and he has done great," Magilton said.
"Gerard, Ricky and I discussed if this was the right time, and we all felt it was. He had been so good in training, so we decided to put him on the bench, and if we had an opportunity to get him on at some stage in the match then well and good.
"He is one of those young lads who comes along and you're really keen to see how he develops. And I am sure there will be people queuing up for him. We have raised his profile by playing him in our first-team.
"We will see how it all develops."
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There has been a lot of hype and speculation circling Madden, many distractions that have the potential to derail his fledgling career. But Magilton says the 15-year-old has an old head on young shoulders.
"He just gets on with things. And that's important. The young lads who come into the group are all very grounded. They all get their jobs when they come in, I think Coran is on bibs," he said.
"It is an important aspect of his education. We have a fantastic core group of senior players at the club who treat them very well. And the boys come in and integrate very quickly.
"Any of the boys who have come in and all been technically very good. There is always a worry that sometimes when the young lads come in that the sessions can break down, people get frustrated. But not with these lads, they have all been excellent."
As for his senior debut, Magilton says Madden "handled it very well".
He added: "Very well. He is a quiet boy anyway. He was excellent.
"He was late coming back into the changing room after the game. I think he was doing a lap of honour and the boys gave him some stick for it.
"But he is a sensible boy and is working on his game. We will see how good he is tonight at training."
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