Teenage striker Greg Cundle has a bright future in the game says coach Steve Lovell.

The 17-year-old frontman was a surprise inclusion on the bench at Crewe last Saturday.

He travelled up with the team as a spare player but when defender John Egan pulled out from the warm-up injured, the youngster stepped up to the bench.

It was Cundle’s first involvement with the first team.

Coach Lovell said: “Greg was the 19th man but when John pulled out we asked if we could move Greg up to the bench and he was officially on the bench.

“He is a good lad, he has performed well this year in our under-18s and he has a bright future.

“That is what this club is all about. We are trying to produce players, some of whom we have already in the squad. It is important for the football club to continue to do that.”

Fellow youngster Josh Staunton, who captains the development team, was also on the bench. He plays as a central defender.

Lovell said: “He is a very good professional. He is a young lad who has come through the ranks. He knows our philosophy and our work ethic, which is connected to this football club and that again is so important, especially with the position we are in.

“We need players who are going to roll their sleeves up and have a go. The last three games, the teams we have put out, have done that. We can’t question the work-rate of any of them.”

Lovell also confirmed that defender Devante McKain and goalkeeper Tom Hadler have both been recalled from their respective loans.