MARTYN WAGHORN has thanked former Sunderland mentor Kevin Ball for helping him on the road to success at the Stadium of Light.

The striker made his breakthrough for the Black Cats aged just 17 as boss Roy Keane handed him his bow during a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United.

After spells at five clubs south of the border, Waghorn has finally realised his potential at Rangers after firing Mark Warburton’s side to the Championship title.

And the 26-year-old is grateful for the grounding he received in the North East as he came through the ranks with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Jack Colback.

Waghorn said: “I put all my success down to Bally to be honest. I was close to being released at 15 before my scholarship and throughout everything he just kept me so grounded.

“Before I made my debut I remember he took me to one side and we had a coffee, and he told me not to get ahead of myself. He reminded me that I was a young boy and that I would be coming back down to train with the under-18s once I had made my debut.

“He kept me really level-headed, made me work harder and harder and looking back now he could see that I could go further and further.

“We used to argue a lot but that was a sign of how driven we both were. We had a connection and we both had the same desire to go further.

“You have to grow up because it’s a man’s world and you know you are playing for your life. You probably don’t appreciate that as a young kid when you get the opportunity to go and train with the first team.

“It’s great to do your training at the facilities the club has to offer, but besides from football we were lucky enough to have college tutors from the age of 16 to help you get some education behind you so you could leave with a degree.

“We were very fortunate as a group of players because those who didn’t go on to make it left with a lot of credit to their name.”