Dad’s advice crucial, says rising star Egan

IRISH starlet John Egan has hailed the influence his father, Kerry football legend John Egan Senior, has had on his fledgling career.

Egan Snr was a central figure in the most successful period in Kerry’s history, winning six All-Ireland titles in an inter-county career that spanned from 1975 to 1984.

Now his son is making waves in a different code. The talented defender was an unused sub in Sunderland’s recent Premier League games against Manchester United and Fulham and a first team debut can’t be too far away.

Having a famous father could be inhibiting but the 19-year-old says his dad’s advice is invaluable.

“I have learned a lot from my dad, who has done it all as an Irish sportsman in Gaelic football,” Egan said. “He has always told me that I can’t afford to get carried away if I want to play at the very highest level. He tells me that the minute I get carried away is the minute I’m finished and both he and my mum help keep my feet on the ground.

“Although my father played a different sport, it is great to have someone like him to learn from and help me through the ups and downs.”

Egan, a lifelong Manchester United fan, admitted he was surprised to be named in the first team squad for the trip to Old Trafford recently.

“It was a dream come true to be on the bench at the biggest club stadium in England, against the team I supported as a boy,” he told Sunderland’s website.

“[Reserve team manager] Keith Bertschin rang me at 3pm on the Friday to tell me I’d be travelling down. When I saw Keith’s name flash up on my phone, I was hoping against hope it was a call to tell me I was travelling to United, but I never thought it actually would be. It was such a good feeling when he told me I was going. Words can’t describe it.”

Egan then trained with the first team ahead of the Fulham game and was again on the bench for last week’s scoreless draw at the Stadium of light.

“The training is a real step up — the tempo is so much quicker and every time you receive the ball, there’s immediately a player looking for it. Being around the first team makes you work even harder because you want to be there full-time.

“But I know I haven’t done anything yet — I haven’t even played in the first team. There’s no way I’m going to get carried away. I’d rather focus on doing well for the reserves and work towards my aim of playing in the first team for Sunderland.”

His father clearly taught him well.