CHESTER FC boss Neil Young believes his decision to take a softly-softly approach with on-loan Leeds United youngster Nathan Turner is beginning to reap the benefits.

Turner, 20, had to wait five weeks before he was finally handed his full debut by Young.

He rewarded his manager by scoring the goal of the game in the New Year’s Day win at Droylsden.

Turner kept his place for Saturday’s trip to Bradford Park Avenue and responded by producing a man-of-the-match performance.

The Blues lost Ashley Williams early on after the former Airbus UK Broughton man aggravated an existing thigh problem.

But on the most of difficult pitches, Turner stepped up in Williams’ absence.

An impressed Young said: “I was asked by Bradford who I thought was our best player and straight away I said Nathan Turner.

“We lost Ashley Williams and this kid of 20, who’s only been here a month or so and has not played a lot of football, went in there and was outstanding.

“I think he’s learned a lot in the two games he’s started.

“He played at Droylsden where people got about him and he played at Bradford on what was a real battle on a bad pitch, and he coped well with both. In terms of his development, I think it has brought him on tenfold.

“He’s got a great attitude. He’s waited a while to get his first start and I imagine he was frustrated.

“I was also a little bit worried that as Leeds are paying his wages, they’d want him to play straight away.

“But I was trying to look after him, not just from a physical point of view.

“I didn’t want to send him out at the Exacta without really seeing us and how we play because the Exacta can be an unforgiving place.

“Now he’s ready to start at home and I think we’re beginning to see a fantastic footballer.”

Table-topping Chester are away to basement boys Hinckley United on Saturday (3pm).

The Blues won 3-0 when the sides met at the Exacta Stadium three weeks ago.

Young said: “Hinckley have got a great set-up down there and I respect them a lot.

“Their manager’s a good guy and despite their troubles, you could see at our place his players are giving it everything they have for the football club.”