DOM Thomas says he is looking forward to going back to school. To the uneducated eye, you may be forgiven for thinking the fresh-faced young footballer will be doing it with a backpack and a lunch box under his arm.

Instead, it will be the former Trinity High School pupil, now in the first-team at Motherwell, who is keen to offer the next generation a chance of making the grade in Scottish football.

Despite only being 21 and with a year still left on his deal at Fir Park, the Scotland Under-21 internationalist has just launched his own soccer school.

The Motherwell forward has already been inundated with queries about the programme which aims to supplement academy and boys club football with non-competitive coaching and advice.

All this from a player who still has the vast majority of his career in front of him.

“We’ve had a lot of messages with people wanting to book their kids in which is really good. I’ve got a meeting later today about confirming the pitches so far we’ve had a great response,” said Thomas, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Queen of the South.

“It’s based in the South Lanarkshire Lifestyle Centre which is next to Trinity High School.

“That was the school I went to so it will be good to get back there as a coach and help the kids out.

“It will be great for me. I’m not one of these guys who likes sitting about doing nothing. For me to give a couple of hours at night will be brilliant.

“I’ve not spoken to the boys about it a lot at Motherwell, it was when I was away at Queens it was in the back of my mind that I wanted to go forward with it.

“At Motherwell, though, there are a lot of the first-team players who coach the different age groups which is great.

“If I could have had that at youth level to have a pro player taking one of the teams would have been great. Without me getting right into the youth football, I want to give a bit back locally.”

There is a maturity and level-headedness about Thomas that goes beyond his years.

While many players may suffer from swollen egos as they settle down for an evening on the couch, the Cambuslang man admits a night of Netflix and PlayStation just doesn’t appeal.

Motherwell team-mate Louis Moult embarked on a similar journey before a route back into professional football opened up for him.

It is a work ethic that served him well, and Thomas is hoping for the same.

“Louis did it when he was down at Stoke and was helping take some of the youth players. It shows you a different side to the game,” Thomas said.

“I came from a kind of rough area and I’ve got lucky to get a good job now. It would be brilliant to help others.

“In youth teams and boys clubs there can be a lot of pressure on kids, but for an hour or two hours a week this will be a chance for them to play, get touches of the ball, develop and for me to give them advice.

“At that age they should enjoy their football.”

For more information visit www.facebook.com/domthomassoccerschool