TALISMANIC top-scorer Ryan Lowe believes one of the few positives to come out of Chester’s season to forget is the development of their young players – although he admits he might not be around to help them further.

A never-ending list of injuries and the crippling constraints of a transfer embargo left Blues boss Mark Wright with a ridiculously small squad to choose from since his return to the Deva Stadium in November.

That has led to rookies like James Owen and Ben Jones being thrown into a first-team squad in which teenagers such as Shaun Kelly are almost regarded as old heads given the dearth of experience available to Wright.

Another talent hot off the production line, Lloyd Ellams, was handed his first senior start at Aldershot Town on Saturday.

And although it ended in a draw which all but condemned City to the Football League drop, the 18-year-old striker could be proud of his performance.

Not only did he win the second-minute penalty from which Lowe scored on the rebound, he also grabbed his first goal for the club to bring Chester level and set up a grandstand finish.

Lowe said: “It was always going to be a long shot as the average age of the team must be about 21.

“The youngsters have been brilliant. Young Lloyd Ellams has scored his first League goal and I’m made up for him while James Owen has come in and shown he can battle away in midfield by throwing tackles in left, right and centre.

“And there’s loads more coming through. There’s Ben Jones, Paul Smith, Ryan Williams and Christian Platt and I’m sure they’ll play a part in Chester’s future soon.”

Lowe’s own future will be discussed after Saturday’s final game of the campaign at home to Darlington, but there is a strong possibility that it could be the 30-year-old’s last in a Blue shirt.

Lowe, re-signed from Crewe Alexandra in the summer, said: “I don’t think I’m ready to go to the Conference just yet. I was playing League One last season and I don’t think I’m ready to drop down two leagues in the space of 12 months.

“We’ve still got a game to play against Darlington. I’ll give it 100%, as all the lads will, and try and give Chester a good send off. Then I’ll sit down and discuss my future.”

Lowe has done all he can to stop the club he first joined in 2005 from sliding back into the non-league wilderness.

His 18-goal return is a remarkable achievement given City’s struggles and the fact he is not an out-and-out striker.

Lowe said: “We’ve more or less lost our League status and it’s a very tough one to take. No-one likes to be relegated and no-one likes to lose games, but we’ve obviously not been good enough throughout the season and we’ve paid the consequence for it.”