I must say that at his age of 17 years one month is it? the lad is a diamond.
I have watched young lads from Badger, Shaw, etc. to now and I reckon this lad is a gem. For example, when Jags first played for us he was in midfield and he was athletic but limited. We learned he was a central defender naturally and in a way he was exposed out of posititon. not at any stage did anyone go "Wow" like they do for young Reed.
Of course he has to be developed. Of course he is good enough for our first team - BUT only if his fellow midfielders complement his play. The lad is tiny, defensive duties will take him 100 games to "man up" and do his bit. Until then he needs fellow players to do that side of the game for him and allow him to develop his strength and his experience.
Sorry, but Scougall and Basham do not do that. Nor would Baxter. He needs a Doyle or a McCall or a Monty there alongside him, doing all the unspectacular stuff and talking him through every game. Last Saturday he did everything very well, but he was not influential; who could expect the lad to be influential? Thing is the team needs to get promoted, it's about the team not just the lad.
Unless we have the right players around him I suggest he should go out on loan to get "wool on his back". This is SUFC, League 1, fourth term, and we need to go up. If we do not, the environment will be unhealthy for a 5'4", 17 year old, even if he were Maradonna.
