Lee Clark Too Quick To Take Credit?

Paul Huntington, David Edgar, Matty Pattison, Alan O'Brien and Andy Carroll have all appeared in the first-team, plus unused subs James Troisi and Kazenga LuaLua. Not forgetting Steven Taylor (pictured) and Peter Ramage ... who came through under the watchful eye of Craig.

Craig: "The Academy has been closed down for the festive period and there would probably have been several young pros involved due to the injuries at first-team level.

"That's the way it is - my job is to get players to a level where they can handle life in the first team.

"That's what the job is about and nothing else.

"I think the lads who have played at first-team level have acquitted themselves well, even though they have had a lack of experience.

"They've done well, particularly as three or four of them have often been thrown in together.

"It is different when just one young player comes in and plays because of injuries, but that is what the manager has had to do - throw them all in at once. And the ones who have played have done themselves, the club and their families proud.

"It's not a problem to bring younger players in at reserve-team level and start getting them ready to do the same. Now we have to go down to the next batch of young players and, even if we have to use schoolboy players, that's what we'll do.

"It is my job to get them up to the level of first team."

No reason was given for Tommy Craig's departure, but an "insider" told us it was because he was overlooked when Glenn Roeder brought in Kevin Bond as his right-hand man.