Steve Davis wants young striker to keep pushing himself to establish himself as a first-team player

Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says that forward Callum Saunders has to keep working hard to fulfil his true potential at first-team level.

The 20-year-old forward has continued to be a prolific goalscorer for the Development Squad this season but he hasn’t been able to get that first goal at senior level during his 9 appearances this season. Saunders has started four matches for the first-team this season.

Steve told crewealex.net: “Callum has great potential. He is a goalscorer but he has to keep pushing himself forward by training well and playing well for the Under-21s. He has to score goals and work hard.

“He has scored goals all the way through but he hasn’t been able to show that for the first team as yet. He has had a couple of chances.

“Callum has to get that ratio of chances to goals down. He scored two goals at Leeds last week. He put home the rebound from the penalty that he missed. His second goal was a nice finish into the corner of the net but he had three or four good chances before that as well.

He added: “He has to become more clinical with his finishing because in the first team, you will get limited chances. He has to push himself and work hard. He has to work hard in the gym and work on his physicality and size.”