Workington Town boss Phil Veivers predicts big things for his rookie players as they head into the final few weeks of their debut professional seasons.

Town signed Scott Akehurst, Sam Forrester, Tee Ritson and Steve Scholey for the 2015 season with the quartet making numerous appearances as the year has gone on.

Veivers says he understands that the players may be frustrated at a lack of game time but has also challenged them to improve as players and make his squad selections difficult.

“I understand their frustrations, I’ve been there before and it’s up to these players to earn their places in the squad and then nail them down.

“It’s nice to have a strong 19 on match days like we did for the Whitehaven game, and it’s no disrespect to those players who don’t make the squad.

“We had Sam Forrester drop out for that game but he’s done well in his rookie year.

“As a rookie you won’t expect to play a lot of games, and it can be frustrating.

“They have come from an environment where they are playing more than 20 games a year and now they have to live off the snippets they get.”

Prop forward Scholey has made the most appearances of the four with 17 run outs, closely followed by Forrester who has made 14 appearances this year.

Akehurst has made six appearances in his debut year and Ritson played three times after making a couple of appearances for Town in the 2014 season.

“Sam had a good run at the start of the year while Elliott [Miller] was out injured and then Scott came in and did really well but broke his hand on Menzie Yere’s head in the game against Sheffield and then split his finger after that.

“Steve only came to us for a trial at the start of the year but proved to us that he deserved a contract.

“Tee understands and knows he’s young and will get opportunities – he has had a few games this year and we gave him his debut at the end of last season.

“There are big things in future for all these guys.”