DEAN KEATES believes Luke Young will play a lot more games for Wrexham after reaching a personal landmark - and the Reds' boss hopes they will be Football League matches.
Currently in his third campaign at The Racecourse, Young made his 100th league appearance for the club on Tuesday and he marked the occasion by converting a penalty as Wrexham beat Woking 2-0 to extend the unbeaten run to six games.
Young has been a consistent performer since arriving from Torquay in the summer of 2018 and Keates can't fault the 27-year-old who has started all 22 league games this season.
"I love Luke Young; the work-rate, the energy, everything that he does, he just goes about his business," said Keates.
"If I asked him to run through a brick wall, he would.
"He just epitomises everything that I want at the football club.
"He has played 100 games and he will go on and play a lot more for this football club, and all being well they will be Football League games at some point."
Young made it 2-0 in the 65th minute, scoring his fifth goal of the campaign from the penalty spot after Kwame Thomas was brought down in the area.
Thomas, who has been in a rich vein of form and is leading scorer, wanted to take the spot-kick but Keates insists it was correct to let Young, the designated penalty taker having converted his last two attempts from 12 yards, continue.
"Kwame wanted to take it as any centre-forward would but it just shows as a group, he has taken on the information that it is Luke's responsibility," said Keates.
"If Luke is not on the pitch then Kwame would take it; there was no attitude from him and he handed the ball over.
"I could see why he wanted to take it, he was desperate to get his goal.
"He is in a rich vein of form and he was unfortunate he didn't get one. Reece slid one across the near post and if he goes to ground and goes to tackle the ball, he will get his goal there."
Striker partner Dior Angus put Wrexham ahead on the stroke of half-time, scoring his first goal since joining from Barrow on transfer deadline day, and Keates is delighted the frontman is off the mark.
“It was probably the best phase of play in the first half,” said Keates.
“A great ball, he got across the near post and put it away.
“I am over the moon for him. He puts in a great shift for us, he is different to what we have had.
“He wants to stretch the game, he wants to play on the shoulder and run in behind, and give the opportunity for players to put balls in the channel for him.”
Angus converted a superb cross from Reece Hall-Johnson and Keates feels the right wing-back,who was a big attacking threat all game, is improving with the quality of his delivery.
“He did really well,” said Keates.
“We spoke with Reece, he wants to play on the front foot. His work-rate, energy, the tempo he plays at, it is unbelievable what he does for the team.
“There has been a few times he gets to the final third and selection of cross, sometimes he looks to put an unbelievable ball in by whipping it too hard.
“I have spoken to him about it and in a golf-phrase, take it down a few clubs just to leave the ball in an area and he has done that the last few weeks so he has taken the information on board.”
Although pleased to secure three points, Keates was unhappy with elements of the performance and felt his side were wasteful at times when they had the ball.
“We have high standards within the group that we spoke about at the beginning of the season,” said Keates.
“I am not going to be too downbeat, I am moaning but we won a football match.
“I would rather be moaning when we have won a game than coming in after Dagenham when we deserved to win a football match, dominated for long periods and kept the ball better, but that is football.
“We just need to be a bit better in possession.”
Wrexham are back in action at Aldershot on Saturday.
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