Tom Watkins says Macaulay Heywood needs to continue learning from his Telford Tigers teammates, after the youngster picked up his first man of the match award against Basingstoke Bison.

Heywood was a star performer in both games last weekend, following his elevation to the senior line of forwards, alongside Jason Silverthorn and Phil Hill.

The 19-year-old – who scored three goals for GB U20 at last month’s world championships – collected a point in Sunday’s encounter with EPL front-runners Basingstoke.

Head Coach Watkins will continue to monitor Heywood’s development over the coming weeks.

He said: “Macaulay was certainly one of the better players against Bracknell on Saturday night, and he was solid against Basingstoke the next day.

“If he wants to stay up there on the first line, he has got to play that way and with the same intensity. It is important he doesn’t try to overplay to create offense. The offense will come.

“He is playing with two quality guys at the moment and it is all about getting him to buy into that.”

Heywood, who remains on a two-way contract with Telford’s NIHL side, trained locally with the Tigers as a youngster, and is proving to be this season’s surprise package.

Watkins added: “Jason and Phil were great with Macaulay during both games, patting him on the back and constantly making him aware.

“He was excellent all weekend and I want to see that continue.”

(Image permission: Steve Brodie)