YOUNG Everton goalkeeper Iain Turner is relishing the prospect of helping Chester City in their quest to lift the Nationwide Conference title - and with it a return to the Football League.
With injury ruling regular keeper Wayne Brown out of action for the season, Everton came to City's assistance last week by agreeing to allow Turner to stay at the Deva Stadium on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
"I am enjoying my time here and I have been pleasantly surprised by the standard of football in the Conference," said Turner. "They are a great bunch of lads and I have been made very welcome by everybody at the club.
"The arrangement is ideal for me, because I spend the beginning of each week at Everton, receiving coaching from Chris Woods, then I come down here at the end of the week to prepare with the lads for the weekend."
The 20-year-old Scottish under-21 international, who joined Everton from Sterling Albion last summer, has been something of a talisman for Chester since David Moyes allowed him to come down to the Deva on a temporary basis last month. City have won all four matches in which he has appeared.
If Chester win the title and Turner appears in the final nine matches of the campaign, he will pass the 12 appearances that ensures a champions medal. "It would be brilliant if we could win the League, and of course to win a medal would be special," he said.
"The standard of football in the Conference is equal to, if not better than, the first division in Scotland, and in certain cases better than the SPL, and the standard of the stadiums is also very impressive," added Turner.
David Moyes sees this spell at the Deva Stadium as part of the football education of the young shot-stopper. A championship medal would be the perfect attachment to the end of term report next May.
Chester City reserves are in action this evening when they face Vauxhall Motors in a Lancashire League match at Flint Town's ground. Former Doncaster Rovers striker Justin Jackson, who is currently on trial with City, is in the squad.
