James Jones fully justifies his place according to the Alex boss

James Jones, 18, is fully justifying his place in the Crewe Alexandra starting XI says boss Steve Davis. The Academy graduate started and finished the move that put Crewe on level terms against Colchester on Saturday and gave us the necessary platform to go on and win the game.

Midfielder Jones followed up his original pass that found Nicky Ajose down the left flank and he was there in the box to convert Lauri Dalla Valle’s clever little lay off to slot home his first senior goal in our 3-2 win.

Davis, who has left out Oliver Turton in midfield since the turn of the year, has been pleased with Jones’s increasing confidence at first team level.

The Alex boss told the club’s official web-site: “James is justifying his place in the team which every player has to do. I thought he was excellent (at Colchester) and I'm delighted he got the goal, deservedly so.

“He has a great strike and is getting closer to where we'd like him to be. He's going to make mistakes, but I'm really pleased with his progress.

“While he's playing like he is, he'll stay in. It's just time, he is still growing and we have to be careful of that, while they are young we have to protect them.

The boss added: “His football is good enough. I've eased him in gently and protected him, but now he's in and he is improving each game. Hopefully he'll continue.”