Steve Davis pleased with the improvement made by his young goalkeeper

Steve Davis admits that the continued improvement in Ben Garratt has seen his move for another loanee goalkeeper put on hold for the time being. Garratt, 19, has been improving with each game and produced arguably one of his best performances of his young career to keep out two point-blank headers from Bradford’s target man James Hanson.

Garratt, a former England Youth International kept the Alex in the game at a crucial time during Saturday’s six-goal thriller and Davis says that the Market-Drayton based stopper deserves the number one spot.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “Ben is improving with each game and he played well for us on Saturday. He made two excellent saves from point blank headers and we know he is a good shot-stopper.

“He is still young but he learns quickly and he has been working hard with Steve (Phillips). His kicking has improved. He is getting more distance and accuracy with his kicking. He has a great attitude to the work and has shown that he has the right temperament to cope with the occasion.

“He has played in front of a hostile home crowd at Wolves and then again at Bradford and has shown that he can cope. He wasn’t affected by it and his concentration levels have been good.

“He will make mistakes as he is still a teenager but he has to go through that process, like all young players do. He is a brave and is growing up quickly.

The boss added: “He is working hard on his size, working out in the gym and that presence will come with age and experience. He is well on the road to turning from a boy-into-a-man and we have been pleased with his development.”