TOWN boss Peter Jackson hailed Football League award winner Joe Skarz and promised: "Your time will come."

The 17-year-old left-back has been out of the starting XI since the arrival of Andy Taylor on loan from Blackburn.

Jackson has extended the Ewood Park man's stay to a second month (the first ended with Saturday's 5-1 drubbing at Nottingham Forest).

But his current preference for Taylor didn't prevent Skarz being handed the Coca-Cola League I apprentice of the year award at Sunday's London ceremony.

The presentation, which recognises Skarz's dedication to college work as well as his footballing prowess, came 24 hours after he made his 10th Town appearance as a substitute for Taylor, who hobbled off at the City Ground with a calf injury.

Jackson is optimistic Taylor will be available for Saturday's big lunchtime showdown with Bradford at the Galpharm (as long as Blackburn boss Mark Hughes allows him to stay).

But he wouldn't hesitate to pitch Skarz, who made his debut at home to Scunthorpe in November, back into action.

"Joe is a very bright prospect. That's why we recently gave him a contract extension (to cover next season)," said Jackson, whose confidence in Skarz was reflected by his decision to release seasoned left-back Danny Adams in January.

"Signing Andy Taylor on loan was in no way a reflection of Joe's ability or performances.

"The thinking was that Joe is a young player who had come into my plans ahead of schedule and done really well.

"But we didn't want to push him too far too soon, and having someone like Andy Taylor, who is a bit further on than Joe in terms of his development, allows Joe to continue his development in a more measured way and pick up tips from someone who has been on the same kind of learning curve.

"Joe has a bright career ahead of him and he is firmly in my thinking for the future of this club."

On Skarz's award, Jackson said: "I'm really pleased that Joe and the club have had this kind of recognition.

"Last season our Academy manager Gerry Murphy won a special Contribution to Football award at the same event, and now one of his products has been honoured.

"It's yet further evidence of the success of our Academy."

Former Newsome High School pupil Skarz, who is in line to play in tomorrow's Galpharm Reserve clash with Stoke (2.00) - when comeback hopeful Jon Worthington and possibly Andy Booth will also feature - said: "It's amazing to receive this award.

"I try to strike a balance between football and work on my BTec studies (at Huddersfield Technical College), which I do as part of the Academy programme.

"It's been a great season for me personally, and now I'm a regular part of the squad, I want to get more first-team starts before the end of the season."

Sunday's awards dinner took place at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, when as well as Skarz, Town were represented by director of business development Sean Jarvis, commercial sales manager Tracy Nelson, retail manager Michele Adamson and media manager Alisdair Straughan.

The club had been among the nominations for the best kit design award, but lost out to Burnley (their success was for their change strip).