David Artell says that his FA Cup match winner Callum Ainley is maturity nicely and is following a similar career path to that of fellow Academy graduate George Cooper.

Ainley, who recently turned 20, scored a terrific last minute goal against Rotherham United on Saturday to set-up a second round tie away at Blackburn Rovers.

Artell says that the talented Academy graduate is coping better physically and is beginning to feel comfortable at first-team level.

The boss told crewealex.net: “Callum has just turned 20 and he is still young, so he is going to find it tough to play 90 minutes time and again but he is getting there. He is getting more comfortable at that level and coping better with the physical side of things.

“Now he has to add more assists and goals to his game. He is on a similar path to that of George (Cooper). He is not far off.

“If Callum can provide more assists and goals then we would have another potent attacker to go with George, Ports, Jordan and Daggers. That is Callum’s next big step.

“He has great ability and he showed his technique with the goal he scored on Saturday. He took it really well and he has to keep getting in behind the full-back and getting himself in the box like that.”