Port Vale assistant manager Ian Brightwell wants Steve Thompson to continue his impressive start to life in the first team.

Thompson, 19, followed up his late winner against Rochdale on 28 December by scoring the opening goal in the 1-1 draw against Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Brightwell told BBC Radio Stoke: "Thommo's probably the best finisher we have at the club at the moment.

"He can work on other things, but he's shown he's got talent and potential."

Thompson, a summer signing from Middlesbrough, had to wait until December for his first start in League Two because of a persistent injury.

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