WITH each passing week that Worcester Warriors continue to struggle in the Aviva Premiership, the clamour from the Sixways club’s fans to give youth a chance grows louder.

However, squad selection remains a delicate balancing act and director of rugby Dean Ryan cannot afford to simply thrown in a job lot of untried younsgters.

Max Stelling has been one of the few highlights of a so-far-dismal campaign for Worcester, but Ryan insists the progress of his up-and-coming youngsters needs to be carefully managed.

He explained: “Some of the young lads, like Max, are really banging on the door, so do we create that opportunity now or later? I think it’s very important that we manage people like Max the right way.

“Max has had two good games in the LV= Cup, but it’s important we take stock of those two matches and look for a response from others.

“If they can’t respond, then Max is in the box seat and that is the nature of a competitive squad and I am delighted the youngsters have been able to create that pressure.”

Ryan added: “I don’t think Max should be pigeon-holed as either a 12 or a 13 — he is big enough to play 12 and is quick and can kick and off-load well enough to be a 13.

“There’s an argument to say you could pop him on the wing as well.

“But I just think the lad needs a chance to adapt to what a Premiership environment is.

“He’s a 19-year-old and sometimes you have to let their mind catch up with their body and I think we’ve done that quite well.

“When I came in over the summer and watched him on the training field, you would have thought he was a Premiership player.

“When I talked to him about starting against Leicester in the LV= Cup, I think he wanted to climb down a hole because he didn’t think he was ready.

“But he is now starting to think that he can play at that level and, as his confidence grows, we have the making of a really talented lad.”