Nathan Taylor gunning for Inter Milan

Jul 23 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

NATHAN’S GOAL IS DATE AT THE SAN SIRO

NATHAN Taylor is hoping to boldly go where no other Scot has ever been before — the Inter Milan first team.

The Blackburn United under-17 starlet has wowed coaches and scouts at trials for Sky One’s new TV series Football’s Next Star and now has the chance to win a year’s contract with the Italian giants.

Taylor shone at the Scottish trials in Glasgow last week to earn a spot at a two-day boot camp which is being held at the England team’s training ground in Watford this weekend.

From here the group will be whittled down to a final ten who will all be flown to Milan to attend Inter Milan’s world renowned youth academy.

And they will be put up in a luxury villa for five weeks before the winner is selected by Inter boss Jose Mourinho.

The prospect of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Figo and Brazilian star Maicon is one the 16-year-old can scarcely believe.

He said: “I went with five of the boys from Blackburn to the trials in Glasgow and didn’t really know what to expect.

“It was all drills to begin with and we were tested on shooting, speed and dribbling. We were scored throughout the day and 20 boys with the top scores played a game to make the final cut.

“I played centre midfield, which is my regular position, and I felt I played quite well.”

Nathan was advised by the coaches he was a ‘maybe’ for selection but immediately following the trials presenter and former Liverpool and England star Jamie Redknapp sped up to Blackburn for some filming.

“Jamie was a really nice guy and he came up with us to Blackburn afterwards to see our facilities,” continued Nathan.

“He told me to go on and enjoy it, try not to get nervous and just to play my own game.

“I also met with a coach from Inter Milan who advised me of what to expect at Watford next week. There is to be a day of drills for the 40 boys on the Friday while the group will be cut to 20 the next day. The remaining players will play a match with the best 10 being taken to Italy.”

The fact the Bathgate Academy pupil is even in with a shout of a prized contract with the Nerazzurri is amazing after he missed two months of last season with an energy sapping virus.

Nathan was bedridden for long spells and lost over a stone and a half at the start of the year.

But just a few months later and he is preparing to head down to England’s official training camp as one of just 40 aspiring footballers hoping to follow in the studmarks of Roberto Baggio and win a deal with Inter Milan.

“I’m due to start sixth year after the summer but maybe I’ll have a better offer with Inter Milan,” joked Nathan as he prepared for his big test.

“It will be very tough but it will also be a great experience and even if I don’t get the contract it can only make me a better player.

“It is hard to put into words what it would mean to me to win a contract and I don’t know how I would react to it.”