From the Hunday Mail in Scotland:
MAD ABOUT THE BOY
Gerrard tells wonder kid Jamie he’d be crazy not to join up at Kop
Scott Mcdermott
LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek looked on helplessly as the ball flew past him into the top corner.
Luis Garcia, Peter Crouch, Robbie Fowler and Anfield boss Rafa Benitez watched in amazement - as a 16-year-old, ginger-haired Scot scored the goal of his dreams.
James McCarthy had just convinced EVERYONE at the club he was the real deal.
That’s exactly how a whirlwind three weeks started for the Hamilton Accies wonderkid.
Since then James has been linked with another 11 clubs - Celtic, Rangers, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle, Reading, Aston Villa, Bolton, Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruna and Villarreal.
He only turned 16 in November but James is the hottest property in Scotland. You wouldn’t know it, though His laid-back down-toearth attitude is a credit to himself, parents Willie and Marie and Accies boss Billy Reid.
James has already trained with Liverpool, Reading and Celtic’s first-team squads in the past fortnight - Chelsea should be next in line with an invitation to Stamford Bridge. But James will never forget his trip to Melwood, Liverpool’s training facility.
Not only did he mix it with some of Europe’s top stars he also got to meet one of his heroes - Reds skipper Steven Gerrard.
James told MailSport: "Liverpool was excellent. I was well looked after and they have great facilities.
"Benitez took time out to speak to me which was great. He asked how I’d enjoyed my two days and seemed like a good guy.
"I took part in a game for the reserves against the first team. It was guys who hadn’t played in Liverpool’s game on the Saturday.
"I played for the reserves in the first half against the likes of Dudek, Stephen Warnock, Garcia, Crouch, Bolo Zenden and Fowler.
"We were one down when I got the ball 25 yards out. No-one came towards me so I just hit it and it ended up in the top corner.
"It was great to score against a top keeper like Dudek. I enjoyed playing against some of the best players in England.
"I even played in their team in the second half. That was easy - every time I got the ball I had a pass on.
"Big Crouch was speaking to me during the game and a few of them came up to me after the strike and said: ‘What a goal, well done.’
"Gerrard also spoke to me. He was asking me where I came from and when I said Glasgow he told me he thought it was a great city.
"He said Liverpool was just the same and if I joined them I’d like it because it’s similar to Glasgow.
"Steven is a big hero of mine. It’s unbelievable what he can do.
"He’s an amazing player who plays in the same position as me.
"When I met him I couldn’t believe it. I was a bit overawed.
"I was sitting onmy own one day in the canteen because none of the younger boys was finished yet.
"Gerrard just came up, sat down next to me and had his lunch.
“I don’t think Benitez would have told him to do it - I just think that’s the type of person Steven is.”
Liverpool were left in no doubt over James’ talent and immediately tabled a 130,000 bid which Hamilton rejected.
Suddenly, every team in the UK wanted to lure him away from Accies. He thoroughly enjoyed two days’ training with Reading and was well impressed by Irish striker Kevin Doyle and midfielder Steve Sidwell. But despite the intense interest James didn’t foresee what would happen next - a training stint with his boyhood idols.
He said: "Billy Reid pulled me in last week and asked if I wanted to go to Celtic for a couple of days. "Of course I said: ‘Aye nae bother.’ I was surprised but happy.
"I like Celtic and used to go to all their games before I started playing Saturdays at Hamilton.
"If the deal was right for me I’d like to go there one day but we’ll need to wait and see. I went into the reserve dressing room at Parkhead on my first day and Darren O’Dea and Aiden McGeady were there.
"They sat and talked away, asking if I was alright. "There was an eight v eight game taking place at Barrowfield with the players w h o weren’t involved in Celtic’s win against Hearts at Tynecastle last Sunday.
"The first team just came in for a cool-down. But I played alongside guys like Neil Lennon, McGeady, Derek Riordan and John Kennedy.
"I went to Barrowfield in Scott Cuthbert’s car and he was great. A few of the young boys helped me a lot in those two days. Gordon Strachan spoke to me too.
“He told me I was doing well but had to keep it up.”
James finds it hard to put into words what the last few weeks have been like for him.
He’s already Hamilton’s youngestever scorer - having netted against Livingston aged just 16 years and 55 days - and has become a regular. But if Accies hadn’t picked him up from boys foot - ball in weren’t Castlemilk, James could have been LOST to the game forever.
He said: "When I left school and signed for Hamilton I could never have dreamed this would happen.
"I’ve changed a lot in a short space of time - because I’ve had to grow up a lot in the last couple of months.
"I had two years at Livingston and could have ended up playing there but I didn’t like the travelling.
"So I just went back to boys club football. The team was called Livingston BC but it was a local side.
"I was there for a year and no big clubs came. Only Hamilton asked to sign me halfway through the season.
"I was only 15 when I came to the club and I’ve worked my way up.
Temptations
“Alot of young boys think they’ve made it when they play in the first team but my family will keep my feet on the ground.”
James insists he’s in no hurry to leave Hamilton and the level-headed kid still does all his YTS duties.
He said: "I don’t know what to think when clubs are linked with me. But I would be happy to stay at Accies and see what happens.
"I don’t mind doing my YTS duties. I still need to clean the boots and the dressing room as I’m learning my trade.
“There are temptations for young people like me but I don’t want to drink at all.”
The teenager is being guided by advisor George Gray, agent Bill McMurdo and Braveheart Promotions. James is confident his career is in the right hands and thanked George in particular for his help so far.
He said: “George and Braveheart have done well by me. Bill is also on board now and he has been good.”
