TRANMERE Rovers fans are starting to be won over by Lucas Akins, believes manager Les Parry – as the manager reveals the hurdles he must overcome to extend Jose Baxter’s loan deal.

Akins delivered a man-of-the-match display in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Oldham Athletic and Parry has paid tribute to the way the 22-year-old has persevered at Prenton Park.

Parry admits the Rovers faithful were sceptical of the former Huddersfield Town man and could often be heard to jeer Akins.

But Parry continued to see promise with Akins, who scored two league goals last season, and rewarded the forward with a new deal in the summer.

Buoyed some encouraging displays away from the Wirral in the early part of new campaign, Akins has been able to carry his form into home matches this season and impress a wider Tranmere audience

“Like most players Lucas is a confidence player and there is no getting away from the fact that our fans didn’t take to him last year, which made it particularly hard for him to play at home,” said Parry.

“When I was bringing him off the bench they would boo but this season Lucas has started off really well and he put in some great performances away from home and was able to replicate it at Prenton Park.

“That the fans have given him man-of-the-match in the last couple of games shows how he has come on from last season.

“Lucas is the hardest working lad at the club and the lad at the club who wants to improve more than any other. Hopefully now he will go from strength to strength. He will have a dip, as all players do, but with some great performances already behind him he can drive that to the front of his memory.”