Boss backing young forward to become a key player in the remaining months of the season.

Alex boss Steve Davis says that his teenage forward George Cooper is beginning to show flashes of his enormous potential again. The 19-year-old from Warrington converted a stunning free-kick to give Crewe a late lead at Southend United last night and his first goal of the season looked to be enough to secure all three points after a really controlled performance from the Railwaymen - but an injury time penalty converted by Jack Payne meant we departed Essex with just a point instead.

One of the real positives to take from the game was the fact that Cooper is back on the score sheet again and is playing with some restored confidence.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “It was a really great goal from George and he has done it before against Coventry in one of his earlier games in the first-team, so we know he is capable of doing thing like that.

“He is beginning to show a good level of form and class that we know he has got. It has taken some time and he will have some games where he doesn’t reach the standard required because he is still young but we have to preserve with him because he is a talent.

“We are all pleased for him and when he is on form he can produce game changing moments like that.

The boss added: “All the young players we have got have got huge potential. We won’t be doing anything different. This is what we do at Crewe; I will put them in and expose them to experiences. That won’t change because we have to put them in to see what they are capable of. “