Keep On Keeping On

ARGYLE manager John Sheridan has backed winger Jason Banton to bounce back from a lull in form and prove his doubters wrong.

The 21-year old Londoner was left frustrated after failing to make a positive impact in Tuesday night’s 1-0 home Sky Bet League 2 defeat by Wycombe Wanderers, a game that missed the attacking duo of wide-man Lewis Alessandra and striker Marvin Morgan.

Speaking before Saturday’s Home Park encounter with Hartlepool United, the Pilgrim boss defended his decision to not substitute Jason, who he believes is the most able player in his first-team squad.

“I left him on for a reason,” said John. “I don’t think he played poorly and I don’t think he played well but I didn’t want to take him off. I think he needs to grow up as a player and leaving him on the other night will do him the world of good.

“Things weren’t going his way but we’ve all been there as players. I’ve been booed as a player but there’s one thing that I always did though. I always wanted to receive the ball, I always wanted to keep getting on the ball and I wasn’t frightened.

“People have got an opinion and you’ve got to expect that. If things aren’t going well, you’ve got to stand up for yourself and prove people wrong.

“As an attacking winger, he’s not someone who’s going to win 50-50 challenges, but he needs to grow and be stronger, and that is why I left him on the other night. Ability-wise, he is probably our best player at the club and he was brilliant in pre-season.

“Hopefully, keeping him on Tuesday night will stand him in good stead for his career and he’ll learn from that experience.”