JASON Talbot had good reason to celebrate his 19th birthday on Thursday.

A week earlier, the young Wanderer was in the academy ranks, hoping to continue his steady progress and to one day persuade Sam Allardyce to give him a crack at the first team.

Forty-eight hours later, having signed his first professional contract, he was making his league debut, helping George Burley's Derby County hold Wigan to a draw in front of a 26,000 crowd at Pride Park, where Rams fans paid their respects to Brian Clough.

There were mixed reports of Talbot's performance -- many praising him for his handling of Latics danger-man Gary Teale, others questioning the wisdom of rushing in a rookie, on loan, to replace regular left-back Jamie Vincent, who was injured.

Burley, who had checked out Talbot in the reserves, had some good things to say about the Trafford-born youngster, but the ringing endorsement of the youngster's impact came on Wednesday when he kept him in the side for the game against West Ham with the fit-again Vincent having to settle for a place on the bench.

Talbot played the full 90 minutes, surviving a painful clash with Hammers striker Bobby Zamora, helping the Rams to a second successive 1-1 home draw against fancied opponents, and making useful contributions at both ends.

"The games couldn't have been better for him," Phil Brown said, assessing the youngster's progress. "We had him watched against Wigan and, although he came off with cramp, we had a very positive phone call from Derby telling us he'd already been selected for the West Ham game.

"Neil McDonald (Wanderers' first team coach) saw him and his reports were massively positive. He stood up well to the challenge.

"We've got an eye on him and it will stand us in good stead to know he's played First Division football. He's a little tenacious character, only 5ft 8ins, but he punches above his weight."

Wanderers have frequently used the loan system to give their promising young players the experience of first team football in the lower leagues.

Centre-back Charlie Comyn-Platt is currently on loan at Wycombe, but Brown made the point that permanent deals were not on the agenda.

"They are loans with a view to bringing them back," he said.