JIMMY Dack has changed his mind about fielding a youthful side at York City on Saturday, but has tipped County’s youngsters to have a bright future, writes Michael Pearlman.

Dack told reporters in the aftermath of Newport’s 3-2 reverse to Dagenham that it was time to blood the kids, but has since reconsidered.

“I hadn’t seen the results before I spoke with you guys in the press on Saturday when I said I would be bringing all the kids in,” he explained.

“Obviously it would be stupid to play them all when we are still in the race and have to keep fighting.

“That’s not to say I won’t play them, because they are stepping up in training and for one or two of them, it is time to start shining.

“Aaron Collins has gone away with the Welsh squad and I believe he started for Wales U19s and we’ve got to try and maybe play one or two, if you are good enough you are old enough, just look at Regan Poole.

“These kids are progressing, they are working hard on the physical side of things and some of these boys have really big futures in the game.

“I rate them, I really do.”

Dack admits the youngsters are the future.

“We’ve offered four young players contracts (Regan Poole, Kieran Parselle, Tom Owen-Evans and Collins) and I think that is great for the club, home grown boys appreciate where the club has come from and what it means to play for their local team, because they have it in their hearts.

“I don’t want to build them up to much, but I had an 18-year old George Boyd when I was at Stevenage (now a Premier League midfielder with Burnley) and if Aaron Collins keeps working hard, I see some similarities between those players in terms of the way he runs with the ball and carries it.

“But he needs to do everything right to live up to his potential.”