GEORGE Thomason’s rise up the Wanderers ladder is set to continue after his professional debut against Newcastle United on Tuesday night.

The 18-year-old, plucked from the relative obscurity of Longridge Town in the North West Counties League in January, will now train with Ian Evatt’s first team until the New Year.

Thomason was recently recalled from a loan spell at Bamber Bridge and may now feature in the squad heading for Stevenage.

Speaking about the decision to bring him into the first team fold, Evatt said he had been impressed by the former Blackpool youth teamer during pre-season.

“George has something different to all the other midfield players,” he said. “Positionally, he probably gets it the best out of them all with what we’re after from the midfield players, in terms of the positions and pockets he picks up. He has done from day one.

“We just wanted to toughen him up a little by getting him some men’s football.

“He also has a wonderful left foot and sees a pass and is a risk taker. Sometimes you need those risk takers to unlock doors.

“He disguises his pass and plays forward with good quality. We’d like him to stay with us for the foreseeable and see how we get on.”