Youngsters Earn Praise!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 08/01/2003

DARREN Mansaram and David Soames are Grimsby's strike force of the future says Neil Woods. The pair of 18-year-olds became the youngest Grimsby Town front two for a generation against Burnley.

Woods, told the Grimsby Telegraph that the best is yet to come from them. "I don't see any reason why they can't be in the team for years to come. They're going to get their chance and they've got to nail down their place in the team and put the likes of Livvo under pressure."

"They have to turn it on and make Paul Groves and Graham Rodger have to play them. I've worked with them day-in, day-out for two years and I know there's a lot more to be seen from the both of them. We've seen some of what Daz can do, but Digger has got a lot more to show and come through."

"It was pleasing to see them both start, (against Burnley) but I thought that Soamesy was better than Darren. It wasn't one of Darren's better games - but the goal is exactly what he's capable of. He had an effort in the first half that only just reached the by-line then he did that in the second. That just sums him up."

"But compared to the standards he's set this season he was very average. His link-up play and his hold up play weren't up to the levels that he's set for himself. Digger was bright and I was very pleased with him. His touch was decent, his movement was good and he was prepared to go at people when he got the chance."

"In another year and a half, when he grows and gets stronger and is used to the tempo, he'll cause defenders a lot of problems when he runs at them. For 65 minutes he was a real handful. I was surprised he made it past half-time, I thought that would have done him with the amount of football he's played in the last two years, but he kept going."

"It's nice for the School of Excellence staff because they work for next to nothing and Digger has come through from the Under 13s. It lifts everyone when someone makes it through. I've told my other lads that if they get anywhere near they'll get a chance."

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