ACADEMY supremo Gerry Murphy reckons Jon Stead will be a massive hit at Blackburn.

No-one knows more about Stead's development than Town's youth director, and Murphy reckons the 20-year-old has got a lot going for him as he joins the Premiership stars at Ewood Park.

"Jonathan has got to be patient and there's a lot to learn, but I have no doubt he will make a big impact in the years to come," said Murphy, who first encountered the gangly Stead a decade ago.

"His attitude and commitment are spot on and that's why you know he's going to be a success.

"If he had made his mind up to be a doctor, let's say, he would probably have been a surgeon by now.

"That's the type of person he is and this sort of move really couldn't have happened to a nicer lad.

"He lives the right life and he is very single-minded in his determination."

Murphy cites two occasions when Stead's attitude suggested he had what it takes to make the grade.

"Steady came to us from Hepworth United and we invited him into the Centre of Excellence, where he trained with the other lads up at Sikh Leisure Centre," he said.

"He did enough each year to move on to the next stage, but when he was 15 going on 16 and was ready to leave school at Honley High, we had a good think about taking him on a scholarship.

"We always wanted to, but Jonathan was a late developer so I said to him and his family that there was more work to do.

"It was more to see what the reaction would be than anything else - and his reaction was superb.

"Over the next two weeks we were left in no doubt this lad wanted to be a pro and to play for Huddersfield Town and he has carried on like that ever since."

Stead grew rapidly as a teenager and his progress on the pitch wavered.

"We had a problem years ago with Andy Booth at roughly the same age and it transpired he had an asthma problem, so we checked that out with Steady as well," said Murphy.

"It turned out not to be the problem. He was just growing very quickly and the doctor thought that, with time, his co-ordination and the like would return.

"That's how it proved, although when Jonathan was a first and second year student in the Academy he had to wait for opportunities, often playing wide on the left, which is not his position.

"It was only in his third year, when he was top of the pecking order as it were, that he got pushed up the middle - and things just took off."

Murphy remembers Stead topping 20 goals in the season.

"I'll never forget going to Liverpool that season and Steve Heighway asking who the blonde haired lad was,"said Murphy.

"I told him about Steady and Steve just said `you've got a great prospect there.'

"The thing about Jonathan is that he's got a fantastic attitude towards his work.

"Last season, when he was being picked by Mick Wadsworth, was a great example.

"He was very conscious that he wasn't scoring the goals he would have liked to, so instead of clearing off after the first-team had done their training, Jon was back on the training ground with John Dungworth and the other young lads and working on his shooting.

"He did hours and hours of practice and that shows you the determination he has to succeed."

So who is responsible for Stead's progress from gangly teen to £1.25m Premiership arrival?

"First and foremost, the lad himself," answered Murphy.

"If it wasn't for the absolute determination I've talked about, he wouldn't have made it.

"On top of that, it is his family who have trailed him about to training sessions three nights a week and to matches on Saturdays and Sundays.

"When it comes to the Academy, everyone deserves their share of credit. We have a magnificently dedicated team of people here, whether they are full-time or part-time, and everyone has done their bit at every age level."