So says Pilgrims’ boss Jason Lee, who reckoned the 17-year-old was effectively the only player to emerge with any real credit from United’s 2-0 pre-season loss away to Spalding United.

Lee said: “James has shown he can do a good job for the team, not least in the games he played towards the end of last season. And I thought he was the one plus-point for us at Spalding.

“Obviously he still has a lot to learn and needs to listen to the things Graham Hyde and I try to tell him about not running around into too many unnecessary areas.”

Lee added: “We think he can step into the gap left by Danny Sleath’s departure but we don’t want to place him under too much pressure. It has to be a case of bringing him through steadily rather than expecting too much too soon.”