Ashworth: "He's [Nicholson] frighteningly quick, he's a great finisher and he's got good movement."

ALBION Academy director Dan Ashworth has every faith in Baggies young gun Stuart Nicholson should Bryan Robson call on him again, insisting: "He won't let you down."

The 19-year-old striker made his senior debut as a substitute in last month's 3-2 FA Cup replay defeat at Reading and in the same week came off the bench late on to make his Barclays Premiership bow in the 1-0 reverse by Sunderland.

Since then Geordie Nicholson has shone for Baggies reserves with three goals in the last two games to take his season's tally to five in ten starts.

"Stuart has made a big impression on Bryan and Nigel [Pearson], he's been playing well and scoring in the reserves," said Ashworth.

"I know when he's trained with the first team he's impressed.

"If he continues to work hard then he's got a good chance of being a Premiership player in time.

"We were 1-0 down in a Premiership league game and the manager put him on to try and change the game.

"The manager had confidence in him. He thought there was a chance of Stuart rescuing something from the game.

"He's frighteningly quick, he's a great finisher and he's got good movement.

"But of course there are lots of things for him to improve on.

"Kanu and [Diomansy] Kamara being away obviously helped his progress into the first team squad.

"He doesn't seem fazed by it at all though.

"He's not a big time Charlie and credit should go to coach Craig Shakespeare for that, no-one could accuse our youth team of being like that."

Ashworth: "The manager has been fantastic."

Nicholson was joined by Rob Davies and Jared Hodgkiss, who also made their Albion debuts at the Madejski Stadium last month, in becoming the first players to come through the Baggies' youth system for six years, since twins James and Adam Chambers.

Hodgkiss, aged 19, played all 120 minutes against the Royals as he turned in an impressive display at right-back.

Davies replaced Junichi Inamoto during extra-time and his form in the reserves this season has seen the 18-year-old midfielder earn his first Wales Under-21 international call-up for their friendly against Northern Ireland on Tuesday, February 28, at Llanelli AFC (ko 5.30pm).

"The manager has been fantastic," added Ashworth.

"We've just had three debuts in the last month with Jared, Rob Davies and Stuart coming on against Reading.

"That's the first time since 2000 and the Chambers twins that we've had that happen at this club.

"The three of them have got a chance of a career at a Premiership football club, but like any youngsters they've got to take their chance when it comes along.

"Jared was highly thought of when he played at Reading, he had a great debut.

"But the Premiership is the hardest league in the world and it's incredibly difficult to break into.

"There are not many Premiership players who break through at 19, the average age is twenty-and-a-half, so they've done well.

"It's incredibly difficult to get players through from the youth system because of the pressure of results.

"The utopia would be to have a squad made up of players that have come through from the youth ranks, and even better, local lads.

"But that's unrealistic.

"This league is the wealthiest in the world which means clubs can pick and choose from players across the world."

RED DRAGON...Davies has earned his first Wales under-21s call-up

You can now buy Baggies images via Albion's Online Photo Store (click here)