CARL Macauley has said he will continue to put faith in young players he feels have a point to prove.

Three teenagers could make their debut for Witton Albion at Bamber Bridge on Saturday after agreeing loan deals from professional clubs in the past week.

They replace a different trio whose temporary stays ended recently.

“These lads are hungry, and want to establish themselves,” said Macauley.

“They’re not sulking because they’re playing in a non-league team, or because they’d rather be somewhere else – they want to show what they can do.

“We’ve already felt the benefit of that this season.”

Billy Reeves, a midfielder at Port Vale, and goalkeeper Andy Firth – part of the Academy at Liverpool – excelled during three-month spells at Wincham Park.

Both made more than a dozen appearances, contributing to an improved run of results that have seen Albion lose only one of their past 10 Evo-Stik Northern Premier League matches.

It is now the turn of new arrivals Owen Evans, a goalkeeper from Wigan Athletic, defender Toby Mullarkey of Crewe Alexandra and another Port Vale prospect – Chekaine Steele – to attempt the same.

A fourth youngster, Wrexham winger Joe Newton, made his first appearance in a 1-1 draw at Kendal last time out.

Macauley, who has used seven borrowed players from the start already since taking over as manager in October, insists he has had to be pragmatic.

With a reduced weekly budget compared to his predecessor Scott Dundas, and with Albion as low as 17th in Division One North at Christmas, he admits it’s been a hard sell to attract new recruits.

“We knew who we wanted to sign when we came to the club,” added the former Marine boss.

“But it wasn’t happening for us – lads didn’t want to come to a side they saw as struggling near the bottom of the table.

“That forced us into the loan market, but it’s served us well.

“Look at [Billy] Reeves – he was outstanding for us, and you can see he has enough ability to be a success.

“I think the new boys can have the same impact.”

Front man Darrhyl Mason, who scored twice against Witton for New Mills last month, has signed too.

He has been joined in Northwich by Tom Owens, a midfielder Macauley knows from his spell at Marine.

Macauley said: “I think we’ve come on leaps and bounds, and our attacking options now are probably as strong as any of our rivals.

“We’ve never stopped trying to strengthen, but that’s required patience.

“Ask any manager how hard it is to rebuild a side inherited from somebody else. It’s tough, I can tell you!

“We’re not there yet, but we can feel positive about what we’ve achieved so far.”

Bamber Bridge, Albion’s conquerors in the Integro Doodson Sport Cup, have beaten Witton twice already this season.

They have lost only once at home in Division One North, and kick off this afternoon’s meeting five points adrift of Macauley’s men with five games in hand.