Keaton Ward in the Football League

It's an understatement to say that effects from the pandemic has led to unexpected things occurring in football and when Keaton Ward joined Ilkeston Town on loan just before Christmas, he probably didn't anticipate that he'd make his Football League debut at any point in the immediate future.

Then contracted to Barnsley and part of the Championship club's Under 23s set-up, the 20-year-old linked up with the Robins on a deal which was set to run until the end of this season in the knowledge that regular game-time and exposure in 'Men's Football' would aid his development.

He started well at Ilkeston - pinging in a 20-yard effort on his debut in a friendly win over Gainsborough which would have left him with a big smile on his face given that he'd spent time on loan at Trinity (under the now departed Curtis Woodhouse) earlier in the season.

However, it proved to be his one and only appearance in an Ilkeston shirt.

In a classic case of 'Déjà vu' with this time last year when he joined FC United of Manchester on loan only for the season to be prematurely cut short within a few days, non-elite football was once again put on indefinite hold amidst the third national lockdown in January; thus 'Groundhog Day' and back to blighty (Barnsley)!

He's since departed Oakwell and with lockdown restrictions also scuppering the chance of a move abroad, despite strong interest, he returned to his old stomping ground of Mansfield Town - training with the squad for a few weeks before making his first Football League appearance away at Barrow on Saturday.

The fortunes of football (or 'fate' as some might call it) doesn't half work in mysterious ways!

Keaton Ward picks a pass at Barrow (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Whilst some Mansfield fans might question the point of his return (probably the same ones worried about relegation!) or want more experienced players in the squad at this present moment, having seen Keaton in action various times and understanding what he's all about on a football pitch, he's an intelligent enough player - technical, clever, a good passer and someone who has improved the physical aspects of his game more in recent times.

Although he's often playing deeper compared to a few years back (when he top scored in the 2017/18 title-winning youth team and got a hat-trick against Morecambe) and he could be stronger in some areas - something which will improve naturally anyway with more exposure to first team football, he's very good in an attacking sense, has an eye for goal, a solid right-foot, better than average link-up play and this transfer is a low risk move which will suit all parties involved. 

He won't cost a fortune in wages, he's capable of holding his own in the present squad and, should he impress sufficiently (as has actually already happened to earn his short-term contract) then there's absolutely no reason as to why that can't be extended into a longer deal. 

In a worst case scenario, if things don't work out, he's probably going to get minutes, game-time and exposure right now which could help to earn him a move elsewhere in the summer whether that be abroad or to a non-league team as Grantham, Bradford Park Avenue and a string of other clubs were contemplating signing him at the start of this season before he joined Gainsborough.

The new No.25 at Mansfield (Photo: Chris Holloway).

Quite a lot of young players often just also need an opportunity or a lucky break to come their way and this move is quite likely to be just that for Keaton. 

For a lot of lads with talent, it's common that the chance never happens and 'fate' conspires differently. For proof of just how fine the margins can sometimes be, you only need to take a look at Max Watters who was all set to sign for Maidstone United (but hadn't penned terms with them) when they played Crawley Town in a friendly in September. Crawley were impressed with his display, invited him for a trial and just six months later, he's now a Championship footballer on a three-and-a-half year contract whilst Crawley's bank balance has been boosted to the tune of a six-figure sum! 

But without that particular game, where might Max Watters be right now?

By coincidence, when Keaton was on loan at Gainsborough earlier this season, one of his midfield partners was a tenacious, full-blooded player called AJ Greaves (someone who is very similar to Anthony Howell in terms of style/attributes. Since then, he's also gone on to make his Football League debut for Doncaster Rovers and possesses all the ingredients to succeed at a good level.

Again, it's proof that there are several good, young players out there who just need to be trusted with that chance. There are various others who are worth mentioning - Harry Jessop at Scunthorpe United being one in particular, who are yet to get their first Football League appearance but could have a decent shot at a career if they fall on the right side of the aforementioned fine margins and have a manager who is prepared to put faith in their ability.

Another reason why this return to Mansfield Town could work out positively, is because Nigel Clough has a relatively recent history of blooding academy players into the first team set-up with Joe Sbarra, Ben Fox, Marcus Harness, Reece Hutchinson and Ben Hart all appearing for the Brewers during his second stint at the helm, whilst Teddy Sharman-Lowe was involved in some first team matchday squads as a first-year scholar before his move to Chelsea.

The fact that Clough is a manager who is confident enough to give youngsters a chance (as opposed to a boss who'll say plenty of nice things but always choose experience over youth - and everyone in football has experienced one of those at some point!) also bodes well for the Stags' youth/academy set-up, on the whole, which is now in its 10th season since reforming in 2011.

Since then, 16 players have gone on to represent the first team (a dozen of them in league games) whilst a further 12 have been unused substitutes on at least one occasion. Of those, in my own opinion, in terms of ability then Keaton is probably second only to Jimmy Knowles who has done exactly the right thing by going out on loan and gaining experience in a senior set-up at Notts County this season.

The players who've represented the first team are: Adam Somes, Jack Thomas, Liam Marsden, Dan Fletcher, Joe Fitzpatrick, Corbin Shires, Zayn Hakeem, Tom Marriott, Lewis Gibbens, Jason Law, Alistair Smith, Jimmy Knowles, Tyrese Sinclair, Josh Scott, Nathan Caine and Keaton Ward.

Academy graduates who were involved in matchday squads though haven't (yet, in some cases) appeared are: Adam Bishop, Cain Smith, Kieran Harrison, Cameron Healey, Harry Bircumshaw, Nyle Blake, Tom Fielding, Iyrwah Gooden, Maison Campbell, Jamie Chisholm, Kian Sketchley and Aiden Walker.

Someone who could consider himself unfortunate to never have figured in a matchday squad is Henri Wilder given that he's strong and reliable enough (apart from counting penalties) and is forging a decent career at non-league level at Tamworth. If he'd come through the ranks maybe four or five years earlier, during a different climate at the club, things could have perhaps been different for him. Noah Stokes, likewise, is someone who would have almost certainly figured in the Football League had it not been for a serious injury suffered in pre-season.