Dan Westwood backed by Rob Smith to succeed at AFC Telford
Boss Rob Smith believes AFC Telford United striker Dan Westwood is a 'great prospect' and has backed him to adapt to life in National League North.
The 26-year-old had an incredible scoring record in the West Midlands Premier – four divisions below the Bucks – for Wolverhampton Sporting, netting 61 goals this campaign.
Having reached 100 goals for Sporting in just 72 games, Westwood was on the radar of several clubs before Telford snapped him up until the end of the season.
He has played the final quarter-of-an-hour in the last two games and, on giving him a a steady introduction, Smith said: "It's four leagues higher.
"It's good for him to have a look at it and I think he is a great prospect.
"You can see what he is all about, he's on the shoulder all the time and you can see why he scores goals.
"It's a big step up. He had a one-on-one (against a defender, on Tuesday night) and he probably would have scored that in Wolverhampton Sporting's league, but the defender was a little bit too clever for him.
"It's something he's got to get used to but it's nice for him to have a look at things and play at nice places."
Smith was impressed by the collective performance in Tuesday night's 2-0 win at Stalybridge Celtic, but took the time to focus on some of his young guns.
Joe Fitzpatrick, 19, put in an assured performance in the middle of the park while Connor McCarthy, 21, and 18-year-old Zak Lilly had lively showings going forward.
On Fitzpatrick, who had a brief spell with the Bucks earlier this term before leaving for Boston United, Smith said: "Fitzy, the last time he was with us, scored that goal at Halifax (in a 1-1 draw in December) and I really wanted him to go on from there.
"I thought he made a mistake going to Boston. I think location-wise it was a ridiculous decision, and I think he realises that now."
On McCarthy, who set up John Marsden's goal at Bower Fold, and Lilly, the Bucks chief added: "I'm really, really pleased for Connor and Zak's getting better with every game, he's learning quickly.
"He's a young boy that only made his debut recently and he's been thrown into the heat of a relegation battle, and that can only hold him in good stead for the future."
