HARRY Vaughan feels that he has the best of both words as his football development gathers momentum.

In the last 12 months he has gone from the first year of his scholarship to the first team, with a youth international cap thrown in for good measure last month.

But while Vaughan has made an impact on the first team since making his breakthrough last season, going on to be fast tracked to a professional deal in the summer, he is continuing to juggle it all with youth team duties too.

And the 17-year-old was a key player as Latics’ youth team came back from behind to secure a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Carlisle United in the FA Youth Cup last week, having drawn 3-3 in normal time and 4-4 after extra time.

But he is taking it all in his stride.

"Ever since I got the chance to come to Chapel Road and train full time after signing my contract I've not looked back,” said Vaughan.

"Every training session I just try to do my best. I'm now playing regularly at club level in games where it really matters to a lot of people.

"It's totally different to youth football, you have to be bang on it every session, every touch really, and there's no letting up.

"The way the training ground is run we have house rules we have to follow, it's so organised and the gaffer has us doing tasks around the place to keep us grounded.

"Some may call it old school but you don't realise until you look back it's little things like doing a bit of cleaning or being the first in and last out to help set up that really makes you a better person.

"You gain respect of the senior pros straight away and also get to meet the staff properly, find out more about them and it helps settle you in.

"Sometimes as a teenager training with just your mates you can sometimes get a bit too confident and then lazy.

"Having a two-year scholarship goes really quickly and for some it may be too late before they realise what they had or what they wasted.

"But being in the first team set-up now makes me hungrier than every before to keep working hard as I want more of that feeling and success I've had so early on in my pro career by giving my best.”

Vaughan is relishing the international opportunities that have come this way thanks to the early impact he has had at Boundary Park.

Vaughan was called up for Republic of Ireland Under 19s played their first games in almost two years in a friendly double header with Sweden, played in Marbella.

He came off the bench in the first game, which ended 2-2, and made his full debut in a follow-up 1-1 draw.

"Honestly a year ago I would never have dreamed of being where I am now and being in the first team set-up, nevermind an international squad, so it's been a top experience,” said Vaughan.