BURY youth graduate Matty Foulds capped a whirlwind week by making his first-team debut in Tuesday night’s cup defeat at home to Leicester City.

And manager David Flitcroft believes the fearless way the 17-year-old came through the test proves the club is sitting on a real asset.

“He’s an incredible prospect. He’s in the real early stages of being a footballer but I am delighted that he’s one of our own and he’s come through the ranks,” said the Shakers boss.

“I really loved how the stadium and the fans got behind him and made him feel a million dollars.

“If we get it right with this boy we are certainly sat on a very good asset for the football club.”

Flitcroft has compared Foulds to Everton’s in-demand centre-back John Stones.

After working with Stones at Barnsley, the Shakers boss says he shares the same elegance on the ball, as well as being a steely competitor.

He finally made the decision to thrust his young protégé forward to the first team on Saturday after watching him play the first half of the youth team’s defeat to Wigan.

The manager whisked him off at half time and put him on the bench for the first team’s trip to Crewe that same day, before sending Foulds out at left-back for the second half against the Foxes.

“He’s still only 17, but you can see there’s no fear with the kid,” said Flitcroft.

“He plays every game as though it is his last game.

“He made his passes, he was brave in everything he did and I love that.

“There’s an honesty about his performance.

“His position is left side centre-half but I had no fear in putting him on at left-back and I thought he was fantastic.”