MANAGER Carl Heeley has said he believes there is a good chain of youngsters coming through the Worcester City ranks as he looks to build to the future.
The City boss has already given Connor Collins and Dean Waldron their share of Conference North action this season, while he did the same with James Lemon and Josh Smith towards the back end of the last campaign.
And Heeley said it would be “pointless” to have the academy system in place unless players were going to get a chance to show what they can do.
“The academy boys have been training with us for a few weeks now and they are always welcome to train because we want to integrate them into the group because if they do get the call they need to be confident they can step up and do it,” he said.
“There are a couple of other young lads training with us who played in the FA Youth Cup who are maybe not quite ready yet, but they are ones to keep a close eye on. There is a good chain of players coming through.
“If you are not going to give them the opportunity when the time is right to play them and have faith and be brave enough to put them in, it is pointless to have an academy.”
Midfielder Waldron has featured in four of Worcester’s games this season, including their 1-0 victory over Oxford City last week, and Heeley was full of praise after the 18-year-old made a 20-minute cameo in the win.
“He has got a lot of potential,” he added. “He is 6ft 2in at 18 and he has got great energy.
“He has got a lot to learn but I think he has got all the attributes to become a very good player if he continues to work hard.”