Steve says youngster deserves promotion to senior squad

Young midfielder Billy Waters deserves his place in the Crewe Alexandra squad after impressing for the club’s Under-21 side. Waters followed Ryan Colclough into the first-team frame after catching the eye in the newly structured Academy league and Davis says those two have set the standard by earning promotions.

Waters has been a regular for the club’s Academy Under-18 and reserves over the last 12 months or so and a glowing report from assistant manager Neil Baker from Monday’s trip to Derby County, saw the 17-Year-old named on the seniors’ bench for the first time against Oldham on Tuesday night.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “Billy played very well for the Under-21s on Monday and Neil came back with a good report on him. He has been one of our most consistent performers for the Under-21s, so he deserved his call-up to the first team squad.

“He has pushed himself forward by playing in those games and being named on the bench was his reward for that. If the game had been different on Tuesday, then I may have given him five minutes of so, to give him that experience. It would have been good to have let him see what it is like.

“The coaches have been on to him to become more of a ratter and pressuriser in midfield because he is a good footballer. His football is good and he has been training with us this week and done well.

He added: “Our young players will get a chance if they play well in the Under-21s and perform in training. Some of them have not done enough and they have to push on.”