Blackpool's new boy remembers making an instant impression on Seasiders' head coach

The forward, who became Blackpool’s latest summer signing last week, was playing for Anderlecht against Critchley’s Liverpool side in a youth tournament in Eindhoven when he was aged 17.

Sarkic explains how, after Liverpool were awarded a hotly-contested late goal, he exchanged some choice words with his new boss at the full-time whistle – a conversation that would obviously stick in Critchley’s memory.

“It’s a bit of a funny story,” the former Burton Albion man told The Gazette.

“We had a tournament at PSV’s training ground which is called the Otten Cup and I was there with Anderlecht and he was there with Liverpool.

“We actually played in the semi-final and we were winning 1-0. In the last minute a cross comes in, our keeper catches it but their player jumps into the keeper and the ball falls to the floor and it was a clear foul. The ref didn’t say anything and they tapped it in.

“We went on to lose on penalties, and as I was walking off the pitch, I was next to the gaffer and, I can’t remember exactly what I said, but in the moment I was fuming because we’d just lost the semi-final.

“I said to him ‘you do know that was a foul, don’t you? You shouldn’t have won, you don’t deserve it’ and things like that. Maybe a few harsh words were said here and there.

“I think that caught his eye because he said how weird it was to see a player speaking such good English playing for a Belgian club and he’s followed me ever since.

“That’s how we first met!”

Sarkic, who was born in Grimsby but raised in Belgium, left Anderlecht in 2014 to join Benfica’s youth side.

He remained in Portugal for four years before returning to England, originally joining Leeds United before making the move to Burton.

Sarkic believes fans will be able to notice the Portuguese and Belgian influence in his style of play.

“The Belgian influence is a direct style where if there is space to attack then attack the space,” he added.

“The Portuguese style, on the other hand, would be more technical, so I feel I can play really well with both feet and I can spot a pass and get past a player as well.

“I’d like to think I’ve brought all that into my game and use my experience in League One last season as well with Burton.

“Hopefully this is the year everything falls into place and I can really explode.”