Young midfielder hoping to retain his place for Vale Park trip

Teenage midfielder James Jones is hoping that the manager will continue to show faith in him this weekend. Jones, 18, has started the last two games for the Railwaymen after becoming the latest Academy graduate to make the breakthrough into the first team and he has grown in confidence with every passing minute.

Jones certainly has the temperament to handle the occasion at Vale Park but Steve Davis is understandably cautious of the physical nature of the derby clash and may look towards a more experienced head. Jones though says he would relish the opportunity to play in his first derby game and is hoping he will get the nod of the likes of Oliver Turton and Chris Atkinson.

James told Crewe Alex Player: “It would be really exciting for me to play in the atmosphere of a local derby. It is always special having watched a few over the years.

“It is what football is all about, what it means to all the fans and the atmosphere that comes with that. Hopefully I will get a chance to play in the game.

“It means a lot that the manager has put in the team lately and at such a high pressure time for the club with us battling against relegation. It shows he has faith in me and hopefully he will stick with me.

He added: “I think I’ve worked hard in training and the Under-21s to get an opportunity and I think I’ve done okay so far. I haven’t done as well as I would have liked but I’ve done okay and I want to show that I can do more.”

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