HARRY Kewell says Harry Vaughan deserved his senior breakthrough, but wished it was in better circumstances.

The 17-year-old youth team prospect made his Latics debut in the second half of last night's late 1-0 defeat to struggling Barrow.

Forward Vaughan has caught the eye this season and was nominated for LFE Goal of the Month for November for his wonder strike against Lincoln City youth team.

The monthly competition showcases 10 of the best strikes by apprentices from across the Academy leagues.

And although the teenager did not come out on top, he has spent the last couple of months with the Latics first team trying to - and succeeding in - impressing boss Kewell.

That has led to Vaughan being named on the bench for games away to Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere Rovers, ahead of him coming on as a second half substitute last night.

Kewell had earmarked Vaughan for his senior debut, he just wished the circumstances had been more favourable for all concerned.

For not only was it an injury to one of his fellow substitutes, Marcus Barnes, that prompted his introduction, the occasion was marred by a sucker punch as Barrow snatched a late win.

"I felt sorry for him because I wanted to introduce him into a different scenario," said Oldham boss Kewell, when asked about the youngster's debut.

"He's worked well over the past couple of weeks with us."

And Kewell was full of praise for how Vaughan handled the occasion.

"Honestly I felt at least he showed a little bit of gut, a little bit of energy and a little bit of fight and a little bit of bite, which is excellent," added the Australian, who says he did not see that same effort mirrored in the rest of the players against Barrow.

"For me there was no fight, there was no bite, there was nothing today," he continued.

"I know you can't always have a great day at the office, I get it. But what's the one thing you can do? You can run, you can fight, you can work hard, you can scrap, you can bite, you can do all the stuff that's hard work, but we didn't have that.

"It's a tough one to take."