On a number of occasions over the last few years, various studies have been produced bemoaning the lack of Asian players making it through into the professional game.

A number of years ago, Northampton Town Football Club began working with the Asian Community in Northampton to try and address that very issue. The club's Football in the Community programme now regularly runs sessions in the Bangladeshi community and a local Bangladeshi League is underway with the final of the Bangladeshi Presidents Cup taking place at Sixfields recently.

As a consequence of this work, we are seeing more and more Asian players attend trials at the club's Player Development Centre, and more making their way through to the club's Centre of Excellence.

The star of the current crop of emerging players is 14 year old Eyasin Hussain. Eyasin, known as Yas, has attracted the interest of Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, but the Cobblers have secured Yas's services on a 4 year contract.

"More and more at Northampton Town we are seeing young players choose us over the chance to go and join a Premier League club," said Head of Youth Geoff Harrop.

"Having seen our excellent facilities at Northampton School for Boys and Moulton College, and with an experienced coaching staff they know we can certainly match what a Premier League club can offer young players with the added incentive of a realistic chance of becoming a first team player.

"While there is obviously an attraction to playing for a Premier League side, and there always will be, young players can get lost in a large squad and get very little opportunity. Here at Northampton Town we go for quality and not quantity and we currently have a number of boys starting to make their name.

"Yas is a perfect example of that. He joined us 2 years ago from Gregory Celtic when he was spotted by one of our coaches - Dave Yates. Gregory Celtic have been fantastic through all of this and we are really grateful to them for their help and support. They are a perfect example of how a junior club can work with and benefit from a partnership with us and their support has certainly helped Yas develop."