TOWN boss Andy Ritchie says he would have no hesitation in pitching 17-year-old keeper Alex Smithies into first-team action.
With 18-year-old stopper Simon Eastwood sidelined by a foot fracture, fellow England age-group cap Smithies was set to be on the bench for the third successive match today.
Regular stopper Matt Glennon hasn’t missed a game since signing for Town in the summer of 2006.
But should he become unavailable, Ritchie would readily use Smithies.
The second-year Academy player, who stretches the tape to 6ft 1in and weighs in at 13st 3lb, was a stand-out performer as England reached the quarter-finals of the recent World Under 17 Cup in South Korea.
Ritchie said: “That will have been a great experience for him, and we are lucky to have two top young keepers in Eastie and Alex.
“Neither of them have played a first-team game, but I wouldn’t worry about using either.
“Our goalkeeping coach John Vaughan obviously works with them on a daily basis and has complete confidence in them”
Eastwood is expected to be out for at least five weeks.
