Jones 'will keep up good work'

Sep 20 2005 By Christopher Beesley, Daily Post

ROOKIE Michael Jones has been praised by both manager Denis Smith and goalkeeping coach Mark Morris after making his full Wrexham debut at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

The 17-year-old keeper started a League match for the first time due to first choice Mike Ingham's hernia problem, producing a mature performance beyond his tender years in a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road.

Smith said: "Michael did extremely well, and what he did he did like a pro.

"The other players paid him the ultimate compliment in that they didn't bother with him, they just let him get on with things.

"My only worry was that we didn't have any cover for him. He could have twisted his ankle the night before the game and there was nobody else to come in."

Injuries have blighted the Dragons' campaign so far, with Lee Roche, Andy Holt, Jim Whitley, Matt Crowell and Shaun Pejic all still out.

On-loan defender Paul Linwood did not train yesterday and Smith is still not sure when Ingham will be fit, leaving the Wrexham boss an anxious wait with Macclesfield visiting the Racecourse on Saturday.

He said: "We'd have liked to have brought in an extra goalkeeper but it's extremely difficult to get other clubs to release them for a short space of time just to sit on the bench."