WORCESTER City boss John Barton will not be afraid to give youth its head in the remaining weeks of the season.

Teenage winger Jamie Hyde has already impressed Barton enough to earn a contract.

Others could follow once City have secured the necessary points to guarantee their Dr Martens League Premier Division survival.

Winger Hyde, aged 18, has fast-tracked his way through the youth and reserve teams to earn his first-team call-up.

He scored his first senior goal in the 5-2 defeat against Crawley last week, and was desperately unlucky not to earn another one on his debut against Weymouth when an assistant referee controversially ruled the ball to have gone out of play.

Matt Upton, another product of the youth team, and Steve Frost from the reserves have also been given their chance as substitute with some measure of success.

Barton said: "The club has invested in a young player with a lot of potential. We would have liked to have done it with perhaps another one, but giving them an opportunity and giving them the best opportunity is totally different."

Barton has admitted that the age balance of his squad is wrong, with 11 out of 16 players the wrong side of 30.

And if financial restrictions and contractual obligations continue to force his hand, bringing youngsters through could be his best option.

At least that would give them the chance to make a name for themselves.