Rich: My turn to take off

Jul 6 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

RICHARD OFFIONG has watched a posse of his former England Under-20 team-mates become multi-million pound Premiership superstars.

Now he wants to take a massive leap in following their lead by grabbing the goals that keep Hamilton Accies in the SPL.

The 24-year-old striker, who last week collected MailSport's First Division Player of the Year award, has played with some of the most sought after talent in Britain.

While in Newcastle's reserve side he was a regular at international level with the likes of Spurs stars Darren Bent and Michael Dawson, Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson, West Ham hitman Dean Ashton and Middlesbrough wide man Stewart Downing.

Incredibly, Blackburn and England midfielder David Bentley - who is set to be the subject of a £10million bidding war this summer - couldn't get a game alongside Offiong in Les Reed's Under 20 set-up six years ago.

But as he prepared for his first season in the SPL with Billy Reid's side, Offiong admits he now has to use his old pals as an inspiration as he bids to reach the top.

He said: "Since I played for the Under-20s quite a few guys have gone on to make a name for themselves.

"Michael Chopra and Glen, who are good friends of mine, played with me while Bent, Ashton, Downing and Dawson were also in the squad.

"The likes of Bentley couldn't even get in the team at that point - that shows how good a group it was.

"But it's testament to how hard David has worked that he's playing for England and major clubs are eyeing him.

"You never know what can happen in your career. David has come on leaps and bounds and I'd like to do the same in the next few years.

"I look at some of these boys and think 'God, I was in their team a few years back and was every bit as good, if not better'.

"I'm as ambitious as the next guy now. I want to play at the highest level possible and test myself against the best. If I could do that from here it would be a great achievement."

Offiong rattled in 21 goals for Accies last term as Reid's blend of youth and experience took the First Division by storm.

But he's a far different player to the one who was highly thought of at St James' Park as a kid when he mixed with the likes of Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy (below).

Richard said: "I was naive in my youth. I had people telling me all the time what a good player I was and it can sometimes go to your head.

"It definitely took my focus off the football. I thought it would all fall into my lap.

"When you're in that kind of company, with guys like Shearer and Bellamy, it can be difficult to keep your feet on the ground.

"The established pros tried to look out formeand Shearer helped me a lot.

"But Bellamy was probably my best pal in the first team.

"We went on holiday together and he really took me under his wing.

"I always wanted to be where they were but I don't think I went off the rails at Newcastle - I just lost focus and took everything for granted.

"That was a big mistake.

I've learned that now. You get nothing in this game without hard work."