JIM Totczyk – the coach responsible for rescuing Baily Cargill’s career – insists the teenage defender’s rapid rise has come as “no surprise”.

Totczyk, who tutored Cargill at both Southampton and Cherries, answered a cry for help from the youngster’s family when he was just 15.

Released by Saints and with his confidence in tatters, Cargill was ready to turn his back on the game before Totczyk managed to talk him round.

Totczyk will be hoping to see Cargill line up for his country following his call-up to the England under-20 squad for their friendly against Canada at Dean Court tonight (7.30pm).

Cargill, who has publicly thanked Totczyk for persuading him not to quit, has starred in Cherries’ passage to the quarter-finals of the League Cup this season.

Totczyk, who recently returned to the Cherries academy staff under Joe Roach, told the Daily Echo: “When he came to us, he wasn’t very agile or quick but you could see he had something special in his left foot.

“I knew being released by Southampton had hit him hard and his dad phoned me one day and said he needed help. He asked me to meet Baily because he had said he wanted to quit the game.

“I drove to Rownhams and met the family before having a really long and in-depth chat with Baily. I told him he would never realise how close he was to succeeding until he stopped. He had the ability and dedication and just needed telling how close he was to fulfilling a dream.

“He was the second player I’d had a similar conversation with and the other one was Alex Chamberlain when I was at Southampton. I had to remind him that the gap between making his dream come true or not, rested totally with him and that having a good attitude played a big part in that decision. The rest is history.

“I know things can be tough for teenagers but nobody ever said being a professional footballer was easy. Consistent hard work is what separates professionals from very good players and they have to go that extra mile on a regular basis.

“At the end of our chat, Baily stood up, shook my hand and said he would give it one more go. Four years later, I don’t think he can believe how close he was to walking away.”

Totczyk, who has always kept close ties with Cargill and his family, added: “He came back the following season and was a different person, both physically and mentally. We played Saints and he had the game of his life.

"We never used to beat them because of their vast resources but Baily starred in a 4-0 win.

“He is a level-headed and down-to-earth lad and that comes from his parents. They would never have allowed him to have a bad attitude. He deserves everything which comes his way because he works so hard.

“It was no surprise to me to see him promoted to the first- team squad and no surprise to see him do so well. He will know this is just the start though and that he needs to make the most of the opportunities he is given.”