Coach James Collins says Callum Ainley deserved his first team debut after bright start to the season.

James Collins says that our latest Academy graduate Callum Ainley is a ‘super talent’ with a promising future ahead of him. The club’s first-team coach says that the versatile Ainley thoroughly deserved his late cameo appearance against Swindon Town last weekend after impressing for the Under-18s this season. Ainley has hit four goals this season for Kenny Lunt’s youth side.

Ainley marked his first-team appearance when replacing the injured Lauri Dalla Valle with five minutes left of normal time during the 3-1 loss to the Robins. 

Collins, who worked with Ainley in the Academy set-up told us: “When a young player comes through and makes his debut for the first team it can go under the radar a bit at this club because it is kind of expected.

“It is great for Callum as he is still a second year scholar but Steve (Davis) thinks he is ready and that is why he included him in the squad and was then prepared to put him on. It was a baptism of fire on Saturday for him to come on against Swindon when we are chasing the game a bit but it would have been a great experience for him.

“He deserved it because he has done really well for the Under-18s. He hasn’t played a lot of Under-21 football and that is probably the next step of his development, to become our best player at that level.

James added: “There is no great rush with him but Callum is a super talent with a bright future ahead of him. He is a super lad as well and hopefully he will get more opportunities this season.”