Steve says teenagers will become vital members of his team going forward.

Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis praised the high level of performances from his two youngsters Callum Ainley and Charlie Kirk against Bradford City yesterday. Both teenagers have been rewarded with professional contracts but are still technically second year scholars and Davis was brave enough to pitch them both into his starting line-up against the Bantams at Gresty Road.

Crewe eventually lost the game 1-0 but Man-of-the-Match Ainley and Kirk were one of the main reasons why the Railwaymen enjoyed the better of the possession in the first half.

Steve told crewealex.net: “I thought the two young lads were excellent. They were two real positives we can take from the performance.

“I am sure the supporters would have come away from the game and been excited by what they have seen. They can see two more young players emerging from the Academy and they are going to be important players for us.

“They are going to be a key part of the squad and the team in the future.

“I played them on the same side of the pitch because I knew they would link up well and they did that. They now have to develop into goal scorers and goal makers for us. That will come from them because they have great talent.

“They are two players we can get excited about and I’m sure the fans would have been talking about the way they played, especially in that first half.”