Boss says Colclough can become even more of a threat in the final third if he plays right up there.

Steve Davis believes that his potential match winner Ryan Colclough is becoming more disciplined in his play and is developing into more of an all-round team player.

Colclough, 20, scored his third goal of the season at Barnsley last weekend when striking an unstoppable free kick from the edge of the box and Davis used the talented youngster as his main forward in the absence of Marcus Haber.

Colclough operated more as a false number 9 and although the Alex boss was pleased with aspects of his play he wants the Stoke-born forward to become even more dangerous in and around the opposition penalty area.

Steve told the cub’s official web-site: “Ryan is becoming more disciplined in his play and it is an on-going thing with him because he is still young.

“He needs the team just as much as the team needs him and he is becoming more of a team player rather than as an individual.

“If he is going to play up there as a number 9 or 10 then he has to get in more positions to score goals. I watched his performance at Barnsley again on the DVD and he wanted the ball a lot which is good, but a lot of the good things he did were wide or deep and away from their box.

He added: “We want him up there and being dangerous in and around their 18-yard box because he is capable of finishing. If we can get him being more productive in that area of the pitch then he will score more goals and help us win more games.”