KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Mark Yates has heaped praise on young goalkeeper Dean Coleman and predicted that he will get even better.

The gifted shot-stopper produced a string of impressive saves at Wrexham to ensure the Aggborough outfit returned to Worcestershire with a point.

Yates’ decision to name the 24-year-old as his number one in the summer raised a few eyebrows, but he has banished any doubts with a series of fine performances, culminating in Tuesday night’s superlative display.

Coleman had to bide his time at the club as understudy to Scott Bevan and Adam Bartlett in the last two seasons, but has came to the fore this campaign with some athletic performances.

“Dean has performed extremely well this season, he’s become the club’s first-choice keeper and done brilliantly,” commented Harriers’ manager.

“I think he’s really grown into the role and can get even better.

“He’s big, quick, can kick the ball a mile, is confident and is only 24, which is young for a goalkeeper, so I think there’s more to come from him.

“I definitely thinks he’s become one of the best keepers in the division.

“He had to make a few more saves than we would have liked against Wrexham but he pulled off some great stops.

“He’s deifinitely proved that he’s worthy of the number one shirt.

Harriers are certainly in buoyant mood after ending their four-game losing streak against Kettering on Saturday in the Blue Square Premier and earning a battling point in North Wales.

That new-found confidence will be tested when play-off chasing AFC Wimbledon come to Aggborough on Saturday (3pm kick-off), before Harriers entertain Tamworth on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

However, Yates feels that his new-look side has gelled into an effective and attractive unit, which has guided the club to just three points off a play-off spot.

“The last three results have been really good and we must continue to play well and give everything,” said Yates.

“We won’t be resting on our laurels just because we’ve got some good results of late.

“We’re always better when we’ve got something to prove and come out fighting.

“It has taken a while for the team to come together but everyone can see how well we are playing.

“We’re playing some excellent football and working extremely hard and deserve the results we’ve started to get.

“The aim this season is promotion and we’ve put ourselves in a decent position.

“Now we’ve got tough games against Wimbledon and Tamworth so we must maintain our high standards.”

Yates is hoping to tie up the extension of on-loan Peterborough defender Daniel Andrew this week.

The defender’s time at Harriers is set to end after the Tamworth clash.

n Harriers’ league home clash against Barrow has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 26 (7.45pm kick-off), because the Cumbrian side are playing Oxford in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.

The Aggborough side are also waiting to find out who they will play in round one of the FA Trophy.

Yates’ troops will take on the winners of Witton Albion and Matlock Town away on Saturday, December 12.

The two sides battled out a 1-1 draw in the third qualifying round on Saturday but their replay on Tuesday was postponed because of bad weather.

The replay at Matlock is now set to be played on Tuesday, December 1.