Ian Smith promises to give new boy Callum MacBurnie more chances to prove himself

Dec 8 2009 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail

IAN Smith has promised to give new boy Callum MacBurnie more chances to prove himself in the Moseley first team.

The 20-year-old made his full debut in Saturday’s heartbreaking 20-19 defeat to Cornish Pirates.

And he might have marked his first start with a try only to see his 19th-minute effort disallowed because of a forward pass.

But otherwise the former Colts captain acquitted himself well in what was just his second outing at Championship level. That prompted Smith to praise MacBurnie and assure him he will continue to pick the Scotland Under-20 centre.

“He did OK, we have to see the kid play,” the head coach said.

“The more he plays the better he should get, how far he goes from there is up to him.

“We will give him his opportunities. We have to make sure we give him game time and if we feel he is struggling take him out, give him a few pointers and give him another opportunity. It is about experience, learning to relax and coping with what is in front of you.”

Smith is also conscious of the fact MacBurnie became the first Moseley player to span the Colts/first-team gulf for five years.

It is something he is keen for more youngsters to emulate.

“It will be good for the club if we can re-establish that pathway between the Colts and the first team,” he said.

“It’s quite a rarity now, not because we are not producing the players but because they are going elsewhere like academies.”

Meanwhile, Smith revealed Neil Mason was withdrawn with a knee injury against the Pirates although he expects the skipper to be fit to face Nottingham on Sunday.

Nathan Williams missed the match with a back problem while Henry Trinder and Jonny May were both withheld in order for them to play in last night’s Gloucester A team match against Bath.