Fleetwood Town midfielder listens and learns from head coach Joey Barton

Coutts, who gained his UEFA B badges at previous club Sheffield United, recently told The Gazette he wasn’t sure a move into coaching would be for him.

But the 31-year-old (pictured) admits Town’s head coach has given him an object lesson in how to make the switch.

With the first leg of Fleetwood’s play-off semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers just a week away, Coutts told BBC Radio Scotland: “Joey’s been absolutely brilliant for me.

“Obviously he’s only 37, a little bit older than me, but I’m not that far behind on my journey through football, so it’s great for me to see how he’s transitioned into management.

“There’s that gap to bridge between being a player and going into management and Joey sort of gets me involved in stuff.

“He has me in the office and wants my opinion, so for me it was part of the reason for coming here.

“He was obviously a top player, a full international who played in the Premier League most of his career, so it was good for me to learn off him on the playing side but also to see how he’s transitioned into management.

“I’ve heard loads off him so far and hopefully it can continue.”

Coutts is fully focused on his playing role ahead of the crunch clashes with the Chairboys and would love to celebrate back-to-back promotions, having ended his four-and-a-half years at Bramall Lane with a climb to the Premier League.

But he admits it feels very different this time around, adding: “It would be a big achievement.

“I have had some success in my career, especially the last few seasons at Sheffield United, but you were almost expected to deliver.

“It has been different this season.

“We were underdogs going to places like Sunderland and Ipswich, and overachieving by finishing above them.”

Coutts would love to make it a double celebration after his first club, Cove Rangers, in his home city of Aberdeen, were crowned Scottish League Two champions in their first season at that level.

“I fancied Cove to have a run at the title once they got into the leagues because once you have got that winning mentality it is hard to stop,” said Coutts.

“Hopefully with Fleetwood we can make it a double, that would be brilliant.”