PETER JACKSON hands striker John McAliskey a full League debut against Scunthorpe on Saturday confident he can help fire Town towards promotion.

The lanky 19-year-old from Golcar has played three times as a substitute, scoring in his first appearance against Macclesfield, but he will lead the attack from the off in Town's most important game of the season.

It's a big responsibility because Town are without both regular frontmen - suspended duo Andy Booth and Pawel Abbott.

But Jackson believes McAliskey and Danny Schofield can produce the goods against a side who yesterday re-appointed Brian Laws as manager.

"Macca already knows what it's like to score for the first team, he has had a taste of the action for the past few weeks and I was delighted with how he did in the second half at Kidderminster," said Jackson, who has no injury worries for the Quid-a-Kid clash.

"He is the type who seems to take everything in his stride and, having done so well as a sub, I'm sure he will let no-one down over 90 minutes.

"I will just be telling him to go out and enjoy himself, be fearless about having a go for goal and to carry on doing all the good things he has shown us so far."

McAliskey will also be entrusted with covering Booth's defensive duties at set pieces in a match which Jackson describes as "huge for this football club."

Considering loan midfield man Gary Harkins for a start as well, Jackson explained: "I've always said that if we win our remaining two home games we won't be far off and, after the disappointment of the Kidderminster result it's probably the biggest game here for a long, long time.

"It was tense for a long while against Southend and I wouldn't be surprised if it's much the same on Saturday. Scunthorpe have re-instated Brian Laws, who will be keen to come back and do well with the club just three points above the relegation zone.

"They want a win for very different reasons to ourselves. That threat of relegation will be their motivation and we have to make sure our promotion push is an even stronger spur.

"I was disappointed with how things went at Kidderminster on Monday, particularly the way we conceded the goals, but that is behind us now and I'm looking to every player and every fan to now give us that final effort to clinch an automatic promotion spot."

It is £1 entry for Under 16s in all sections of the stadium and Jackson is hoping for another big attendance.

"This is where we need our supporters right behind us and I know they won't let us down now that we are so close to achieving what we want," he said.