DOUGIE Freedman has revealed Wanderers’ youngsters are attracting the attention of other clubs.

The Whites boss says that, unlike in the past when no one wanted the club’s kids on loan, his phone is now buzzing with requests to take them on.

The likes of Georg Iliev, Zach Clough, Joe Riley, Josh Vela and Cian Bolger are being tracked by a handful of clubs in League One and Two.

And Freedman will be making his mind up in the next couple of weeks as he whittles down the first-team squad he wants to start the Championship season.

“I have to decide if one or two of these younger players are ready to be given an opportunity to play or be involved in the squad,” he said.

“That’s what I got from Friday night’s game at Macclesfield.

“Those young lads have to be pushing first-team players now and on Friday some showed that.

“I want them to keep the respect for those senior players but also to want to take that shirt off them.

“The problem we have previously had is that we could not get certain players out on loan because they were not good enough.

“My phone is now ringing asking for three or four to go on loan and I have to make a decision whether I keep them around for experience.

“I won’t hang on to people just for the sake of training, either they play here or we try to get some loan time for them.”

Young keeper Ross Fitzsimons impressed in his first 90 minutes for Wanderers in the 1-1 draw at Macclesfield.

And the former Selhurst Park man is being tipped to get even better as he gets used to life in the North West.

“It was Ross’s first 90 minutes and I thought he did well,” Freedman said.

“His decision-making was good and his kicking was excellent.

“He is young and will get better.”