The top prospect backed for success by Michael Appleton as Blackpool seek Academy production line

Michael Appleton feels Rob Apter can make the step into first team contention and herald a new wave of talent emerging at Bloomfield Road.

Apter shone in the friendly win at Southport on Saturday despite playing in an unfamiliar right back position. Usually a winger, the 19-year-old has already made his Seasiders debut and has impressed in non-league loan spells. The Scotland Under-19 international is viewed as a potential first team option by new boss Appleton who hailed his showing at Haig Avenue.

And the Seasiders chief wants to see more players progress through the ranks, whether they are drafted in from elsewhere or homegrown talents emerging.

"Rob's the one that's sort of really pushing forward at this moment in time," said Appleton of his desire to blood youngsters. "Obviously we had Will (Squires) and Brad (Holmes) with us today just in case there were a couple of injuries, they've been training with us on a regular basis, they'll probably come away with us when we go away (to Scotland).

"The more involvement they get, the better for them from an experience point of view but certainly I've got to say I look at Rob today and he doesn't look out of place. He's played in a position that's not familiar to him but he made that look comfortable.

"The reality is we want a model where we can go out and get players whether it's National League, League Two or from under 23 sides of bigger clubs. But at the same time we want to produce our own players.

"So if we can make sure we've got players who are competitive and can deal with first team football. The one way and only way we can do that is getting them around us as much as we possibly can. I've done that all my career, getting players with me and exposing them as