“These lads all grew up together, went on to play a major part in winning the treble in 1999 and have had great careers.”
Speaking of teenage strike sensation Dean Bowditch personally, Royle added: “Deano just needs to learn to appreciate the nitty-gritty of the game, working back, the occasional tackle, winning a header, that sort of thing.
“But we know what we've got with the kid. The ball is his friend and all the other stuff that goes with making a top-class player will fall into place.”