KEITH Hill admits he is pushing Ronan Darcy harder than he would like in the Wanderers first team.

The homegrown midfielder got plenty of praise for his performance against Portsmouth at the weekend – playing 89 minutes before being withdrawn for striker Connor Hall.

Hull had hinted previously that he could be tempted to take Darcy out of the firing line but the lack of options in the middle of the park left him with no choice but to lean on the youngster again.

With Ali Crawford now back in the gym and working towards a playing return – perhaps as early as next month – Darcy currently remains the only midfield option of his type in the dressing room.

But Hill has backed the 19-year-old to cope with the extra pressure, even if it goes against some of his principles in bringing young players through.

“Ronan was flagging during the Lincoln game and he has played a lot of football for a young footballer in a short period of time,” Hill said. “Ideally for me he’d be dipping in an out, three games in and a rest for a couple of games.

“While he is playing, playing, playing he isn’t learning. There is no time to digest.

“But I have to reassure Ronan because he’s been excellent. In an ideal world he’d be one I’d nurture in a different way rather than being reliant on him – which we are.

“I think he will improve and I think he is a quick learner but I am mindful of the fact that he is a bit fatigued mentally as well because for someone so young to play that number of games takes its toll more than it does physically.”