JAKE Hesketh will have ‘grown’ from scoring his first league goal against Pompey at Fratton Park.

That is the view of his Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough, after the Saints loanee’s brilliant solo strike against the League One leaders last night.

Clough,who handed Hesketh his full league debut only three weeks ago, said: “Jake jinked in the penalty area and defenders are wary about touching people who do that and he rifles one into the roof of the net.

“For him and the other youngsters out there this is the kind of place that you grow up.”

Hesketh was making his fifth league start for Burton after signing on loan until January 2.

After breaking into Clough’s starting line-up earlier this month, the 22 year-old from Locks Heath told Derbyshire Live: “I knew I’d have to work hard to force my way into the team.

“Whether that be in the cups or through an injury, however I was going to get an opportunity, I was just waiting for that, working hard towards that and then when it came, wanting to take it as well as I could.

“Now that I’ve had a little run, that’s all I want to do from now on. I don’t want to be in and out, I want to try to stay in the team.”

Saints’ time in League One aided the development of Adam Lallana and it is hoped that Hesketh, who made two Premier League appearances four years ago, also makes it back to the top flight.

“I think every young player wants to play in the Premier League and wants to play in the best league you possibly can,” added Hesketh.

"At this stage in my career, I needed to play senior football.

“Obviously when this came up, it was something I wanted to take.

“At the moment, it’s until January, but we’ll see whatever happens come then. I just want to play as much football as I can and help this team push up to where it should be in the league.”