Having made his Newcastle United debut as a 16-year-old, Steve Watson knows about being in the spotlight as a talented young footballer.

Now, 34 years on, he and assistant Terry Mitchell, are tasked with overseeing the development of Jack Maskell, the young striker Darlington signed this summer after he scored 26 goals in his single season with Dunston UTS.

Four years ago as a 16-year-old he had an eight-week trial with Sunderland, and last season Kevin Phillips, when he was Hartlepool manager, watched him in action.

But it is Darlington who have bought him for an undisclosed fee and handed him the number shirt. He will play on Saturday in the season opener at home to Kidderminster Harriers.

Quakers’ boss feels he has the attitude required to make the most of his ability.

“Living in the North East and watching games, people were talking about him,” admits Watson.

“Games were watched and even the games he didn’t score in he was murder to play against.

“He’s brave, and he’s a bit of a throwback aerially. He makes life really difficult for defenders.

“He could be anything. He’s got the attitude and mentality and that could take him anywhere. There’s players that have come from that level the last ten years that have gone on to make it.

“I don’t want to put pressure on the lad as he’s just starting, but the attitude and endeavour that he’s got already, it’s hard to instil in someone if they haven’t already got it.

“So now you’re just trying to improve him as a player, even if it just by five or six percent but he’s got the part that some players don’t and that’s the right attitude and bottle.”

Dunston signed him 12 months ago from Horden, for whom he had bagged a hatful of goals in the second division of the Northern League, so Maskell has leapt up four divisions in a year.

Being part-time, Darlington train twice a week, but Watson has no concerns about the coaching they can offer Maskell.

“Obviously he’s not going to get a full-time coaching, but myself and Terry are professional coaches and we will hopefully just get him that be smoother,” says the manager.

“Everybody needs something. We can work on his technique, anything he feels he is deficient in.

“Terry is pretty much a manager on his own right. When we train it really is a two-man job, we split the group on Thursdays and I might with the back line and Terry will do something we need with the other end of the pitch.

“Having two coaches that are happy and comfortable doing that, you’ve got more chance of improving things.”

Clearly Maskell is not in the same spotlight Watson was when making the breakthrough at St James’ Park, yet there is bound to be a level of expectation given the number of goals he has scored previously.

Watson is not concerned about Maskell coping, and said: “I don’t think Jack’s the type that’ll be constantly looking for pats on the back. And if you do that you might find stuff that you don’t like as well.

“Pressure only comes when you read everything and listen to everything. He’s a normal lad, but your modern-day 20-year-old live their lives on social media and that can bring pressure in any walk of life. But I don’t see him being affected.”

Summer signing Joe Leesley is out of action with a back problem for about two months, but Peter Jameson and Scott Barrow will both start against Kidderminster, who are managed by former Hull boss Phil Brown.

Former Quakers Jack Lambert joined Harriers 12 months ago but has been on the bench in pre-season.