Mikey O’Neill is hoping there are more opportunities to come his way with the first team before the end of the season.
It’s been a fantastic campaign for the attacker, who has won the league with the U19s, helped PNE win the Central League and – arguably most importantly – he made his debut for the first team in the recent home fixture against Queens Park Rangers.
With just two games left of the Championship season, a visit to Barnsley on Saturday and a home tie against Middlesbrough on the last day, Mikey is hoping an opportunity will come his way.
He told iFollow PNE: “I want some more minutes before the end of the season just to see what I can do so I’m hoping it comes.
“Obviously if I am involved it will be my first time being involved in Gentry Day, so it’s a nice occasion for all the fans and it should be good.
“When we first went out for training just then it was the first thing [the manager talked about]. He got us in a huddle, just spoke about it, how big of an occasion it is for the fans and we want to do everything to get the three points and send them home happy.”
The supporters got the chance to congratulate Mikey and his teammates on Monday evening on their Youth Alliance North West Conference title victory.
It was a great reception from the Deepdale crowd as the team were presented with their trophy and walked around the ground to take in the applause.
With Mikey named as a substitute in the game against Blackburn Rovers, it was a surreal experience for the teenager.
“It was a great occasion to be honest,” he added. “To be able to share that with all my teammates, we’ve all worked ever so hard to get it and to be able to celebrate in front of the fans with the trophy was really nice for us all.
“Winning any trophy’s good but then being able to celebrate in a full stadium was just the icing on the cake.
“I was in the middle of my warm up and I didn’t really know what was going on. I got shouted over, got my medal, did the trophy [presentation] and then I just had to run back and carry on with the warm up!
“I wasn’t able to go round with the team which was a bit upsetting for me, but it was still good for all the other lads to be able to do it and get the round of applause that they all deserve.”
A day later, the 17-year-old was then a scorer of two in the Central League victory over Fleetwood Town which saw the side clinch the league title.
He’s featured regularly for the reserves this season and feels the competition has helped him get to where he is today, training with the first team at Euxton.
Mikey said: “When I found out about it at the start of the season, I didn’t really think it would have as much of an impact as it has had this season.
“I’m really happy it’s come in because it really gives you a chance to get under the manager’s nose and without it, it would be interesting to see where I would have been.
“Hopefully I’d still be where I am, but it’s definitely helped 100 per cent."
You can watch Mikey's interview for free on iFollow above.