Stoke City Academy director Dave Wright is delighted seeing Ollie Shenton make an impression with the first team squad.
Shenton, 16, has been training with Mark Hughes's senior players and produced a star turn in a pre-season friendly at Burton Albion.
Wright told The Sentinel: "Ultimately we are here in the Academy to serve the first team. If the boys can't achieve that then we try to make sure they have a career in the game.
"To see Ollie make that breakthrough so quickly obviously we are delighted. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing one of your graduates in or around the first team.
"Ollie is still very young and we have to be very careful how that's managed. But all the time he looks like he's coping with it and dealing with it then you have to let them go.
"It's great to see the manager showing faith. If the boys deserve it and show promise he will put them in. It's a great incentive for other players as well."
