ROSS Sykes hopes he can be a “standard bearer” for Accrington Stanley’s Academy, after captaining the club for the first time this week.

The young defender - a product of the club’s youth set-up - led the side out for their 4-1 Checkatrade Trophy win over Macclesfield Town on Tuesday.

Watched by his family, it was a proud moment for the 19-year-old, who was born the year that manager John Coleman first took charge of the club, joined the Academy after a trial in 2015 and signed his first professional deal in May 2016.

But rather than a token gesture by the Stanley boss, he insists the captaincy was a moment that Sykes had warranted.

“I’m delighted for Ross, it’s a great achievement for him and he’s deserved that,” said Coleman.

“I remember giving the captain’s armband to a young man called Peter Cavanagh and look how that turned out. He had a fantastic spell at Accrington.

“Ross is only going to get better as he gets older and you could see the class in him on Tuesday night.”

Over recent years Sykes has had trials at Sunderland and Stoke City, and it is understood Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, were tracking the defender in a bid to recruit him for their Under 23s squads. But Sykes refused to have his head turned and preferred to wait for his break at the Wham Stadium.

Although he made his debut in an EFL Trophy group stage game with Crewe in August 2016, he had to bide his time.

His Football League debut came a year later, as a late substitute in Stanley’s 2-2 draw at Notts County at the start of their promotion season.

He went on to impress while on loan with Southport last season, and again during pre-season training this summer to start the League One season alongside Mark Hughes at the heart of the defence.

The arrival of Michael Ihiekwe on loan from Rotherham has provided fierce competition for the tall teenager. But he remains in the current, and future, thoughts of Coleman.

“Ross has worked really hard in the summer and has deserved his opportunity and I’m sure plenty more will come along,” said the Stanley boss. "He’s only getting better and hopefully his career will develop the way I thought it would pan out two or three years ago.

“He’s someone we’ve always believed in. We’ve always believed there was ability there but sometimes you can rush people like that and ruin them, so we haven’t done that.

“The youth team did a lot of work with him and improved him massively. And we’d like to think we’re carrying on that improvement but it’s a long process.”

Of his break into the first team, Sykes said: “Hopefully it gives some of the Academy lads something to look up to. I do see myself as a bit of a standard bearer.

“Hopefully we can see more of them coming through and getting into the team in the future.”

Coleman added that Sykes was a shining example to other Academy players, for his work ethic and the way he conducted himself.

“He needs a lot of credit for himself because he worked ever so hard in the summer and got himself really fit,” said the Stanley boss.

“The good thing about Ross is he’s always keen to learn, he’s not one of those who thinks he’s arrived just because he’s in the first team, he’s always keen to look at what he’s doing, to speak to myself, John (Doolan) and Jimmy (Bell) and look at his clips with us and try to improve.

“He could have had his head turned but I think he likes it here to be honest.”