MAGPIES’ manager Mark Jermyn was happy to see youngster Tom Blair make his first-team debut for Dorchester on Saturday and insists he is “very much a character that we like”.

The teenager came on as a second-half substitute at the Avenue and almost found the net in the 2-2 draw against Leamington.

Jermyn said: “Tom came in and did really well, he was nice and bright and did not looked fazed by the fact that he was coming into play a team near the top of the league.

“He just came on and got on with it and he is very much a character that we like. He wants to work hard.

“He is only 17 years of age. Everybody knows we are all about trying to get young players in, trying to improve them and moving them on to bigger and better things.

“At his age I think he is someone that needs to come in and work hard and he has a future.”

Speaking about how the deal to get Blair to sign from Bridport came about, the Avenue boss added: “In all fairness, Rich Robson, the reserve-team manager, managed to get hold of him and get him in, so credit goes to Rich really.

“There are a lot of people locally we do chat to. There was a lad at Portland who we were trying to get but it’s the level of commitment that you have to give at this level of football. It’s not for everybody.

“We will get Tom involved on Tuesday night and it’s great for the football club that it’s another local lad.

“Long may it continue that we recruit locally.”

Commenting on one of the experienced players in his squad, Jermyn also reserved special praise for striker Nathan Walker after he returned to action following his nasty neck injury sustained against Hayes & Yeading the previous weekend which left him requiring treatment in hospital.

Jermyn added: “I spoke to Nathan the day before and asked him if he was okay to play. His words were ‘have I got a choice?’ and I said ‘no’. So he said ‘okay fine, I’m playing’.

“Nathan is Nathan, he is a great character and represents the club really well. I cannot speak highly enough of him.”