​THE rocky road to the top is one fraught with pitfalls. Shaun Wright-Phillips was dumped by Nottingham Forest’s academy before going on to play for Manchester City and England, while David Platt was famously released by Manchester United at the beginning of his career.

So when Scunthorpe-raised Liam Hughes travelled down to Lilleshall for the FA’s exit trials after not being retained by the Iron, following four years at the club from 11-15 years old, he did so hoping that would not be the end of his career.

And so it proved as Cambridge United snapped him up, with the now 18-year-old not looking back. On the fringes of the first team, the former Park Tigers player scored twice in pre-season friendly and is making quite an impression on coaching staff at Cambridge.

Throw in a television appearance on Soccer AM’s Skills School – a contest he won – and that slice of stardom could be just the beginning. “I’m very proud of the lad. After he left Scunthorpe United he didn’t just pack it in, he kept his spirits up and he kept his work-rate up,” said Liam’s dad, Mark, about his son.

“Everyone seems to be pushing him in the right direction. “The mentality they have instilled in him at Cambridge is ‘be prepared’. “They are not allowed to go out and start being over-exuberant. “They are made to keep their feet on the ground and nothing is made unless they make it.”