Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper impressed with Darlington defender
MARC BRIDGE-WILKINSON'S return to Darlington means manager Mark Cooper is likely to make at least one change to his line-up for Saturday's game at Tamworth.[LNB] At the weekend Quakers play at The Lamb Ground, where Cooper began his managerial career, with Bridge- Wilkinson likely to return, as is centre-back Adam Quinn.[LNB] Quinn was cup-tied for last Saturday's FA Trophy win over Bath City, so Quakers turned to 18-year-old Dan Burn and the manager was impressed by the teenager.[LNB] Cooper says Blyth-born Burn's performance in his first start of the season was outstanding and reckons the centre-back could be even better than he hoped.[LNB] In recent months a lack of alternatives has seen striker Liam Hatch used at centreback, but Burn slotted in to great effect.[LNB] Cooper said: He was outstanding, especially for a young lad. He's calm with the ball, he's aggressive in the air and he's not a slouch. All those ingredients make a good centre-back.[LNB] I've seen him play in the youth team and obviously he has trained with the firstteam.[LNB] We thought he had a chance and Saturday was a good time to try him out. He can be pleased and, based on that performance, he is better than I thought he was.[LNB] We're trying to maintain a little bit of consistency so we left Liam Hatch up front and thought that if Dan is ever going to be ready and good enough then Saturday would a good time to give him a go and he was my man of the match.[LNB] Prior to the weekend Darlington's youth team, coached by Craig Liddle, were second in the table, but without Burn and left-back Phil Gray, who was on the bench for Quakers' first team, they lost 3-0.[LNB] Cooper added: We speak to Craig Liddle everyday about who is doing what in the youth team and the ones that are doing well we involve in our training.[LNB] The youth team are doing well but they lost on Saturday because we weakened them by taking two of their better players in Dan and Phil Gray and that's no coincidence.[LNB] Phil is a promising left-back and he is keeping Aaron Brown on his toes.[LNB] But that's what youth development is all about. Youth development is not about winning the youth league, it's about producing players and Craig is doing a brilliant job.[LNB]
