Development coach says Lowery has the desire and ability to make the grade.

Development coach Alex Morris says young Tom Lowery deserves the offer of a professional contract following his progression through the Academy set-up. Lowery, 18, has followed the likes of Callum Ainley, Charlie Kirk and Ollie Finney by being offered professional terms by the club and Morris has been full of praise for his application at Youth and Under-21 level.

Morris told the club’s official web-site: “It’s progressively got better. Early in the season, some of the young first and second year pros really struggled to get to grips with what’s required off the ball, work rate, effort, desire and determination to go with their obvious technical ability.

“Once they started to buy into the fact that they have to earn the right to have the ball to then showcase what you’re good at, things are a lot easier.

“From Christmas onwards it had a positive effect on performance and ultimately if you perform well then you’re more likely to win games and that’s what’s happened.

“Like Dale and Pickering, there’s a common theme. Tom has good effort, good desire and good work rate in terms of wanting to improve.

He added: “With Tom what you have got is lots of good technical ability. He’s comfortable receiving the ball, comfortable playing in multiple positions, that comes from being at this Club for a long time, and he’s adding a goal threat as well.”