Ian Baraclough has likened Paddy Lane to a young Stuart Dallas and hopes the Northern Ireland debutant can follow in the Leeds United player’s footsteps in English football.
Lane was one of two young prospects, alongside Sunderland’s Trai Hume, to win his first cap in Tuesday night’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Hungary in Belfast.
The talented 21-year-old, who only made his Fleetwood Town debut in September, started at left wing-back and his bright display impressed the onlooking Baraclough.
Read more: Northern Ireland player ratings in Tuesday's defeat to Hungary
It also reminded the Northern Ireland manager of one of his senior stars - Leeds midfielder Dallas who left Crusaders for Brentford in 2012.
Dallas, now 30, would go on to secure a move to Elland Road in 2015 and help the Yorkshire club seal promotion and Premier League status for the first time in 16 years in 2020.
“I see a lot in him in what we saw in Stuart Dallas when Stuart left Crusaders to go to Brentford,” said Baraclough.
“Hopefully that doesn’t put a massive weight on his shoulders, but he’s the same type of body build and he’s got great athleticism.
"He is decent on the ball, he showed a good calm head and personality to go and play the way he did.”
Lane, who was playing on loan with Farsley Celtic in the sixth tier of English football only 12 months ago, was also eligible to play for Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
But Baraclough was determined to enlist the versatile midfielder, who joined Fleetwood from Hyde United on a two year deal last summer, to the Green and White Army.
A number of phone calls, including a chat with Lane’s father while the national manager was “on holiday in Dover”, helped seal the deal.
He said: “Paddy could have been playing for Wales and the Republic, but we spoke to him early and it’s a sign of the work we’re trying to put in on the eligibility side of things.
“We won’t leave any stone unturned. I spoke to Paddy and his father and I told Paddy that I could see him coming into the U21s and also the pathway was there for him.
“It took the paperwork time to go through, but he was someone we were really excited to get and he has taken his chance.”
On handing Lane a surprise start against the Hungarians, Baraclough said: “I decided late Sunday night, Monday morning and it was because of the way he worked and trained.
“The way he acquitted himself, he was ready and I think he showed that, he played with no fear.
“He is someone who has come from non-League football and risen very quickly to international football and he can be very proud of what he has done so far."
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