Robins lauds City's young 'trailblazers'

MARK Robins has congratulated Nathan Lowe and Sol Sidibe for nominations for EFL awards as he dreams of a Stoke City first team squad peppered by academy graduates.

- Peter Smith

Lowe and Sidibe, who both joined Stoke's junior ranks while they were at primary school, are both up for end of season gongs thanks to their performances in the first half of the season. Lowe, aged 19, is a contender for League Two player of the year thanks to his flood of goals on loan at Walsall while England youth captain Sidibe, aged 18, is on a short list for apprentice of the year.

It has been a more difficult second half of the campaign. Lowe, who returned to Stoke in an injury crisis and Tom Cannon being recalled in January, hasn't had the game time he would want and Sidibe was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back heading into the New Year.

But there are big hopes and expectations for their futures and that they can help lead the way for more to burst through from the youth team.

Robins said: "It's testament to them and the way they carry themselves. The first half of the season for Nathan and for Sol here has been enough for the recognition they have received and it's down to them, down to their hard work and concentration and ability. That can only help. It's great for the club, great for them individually and hopefully we can have many more nominations for other players.

"It's great for everybody. Two academy boys who have started to make inroads in their career in a positive way. They are the trailblazers at the moment for people to follow."