Davies linked with Leeds United move

Aug 23 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

LEEDS UNITED are being linked to move for Tranmere’s teenage winger Steve Davies.

Sources in Yorkshire suggest Leeds manager Dennis Wise wants to reinforce his squad with the 19-year-old from Garston, who has been in eye-catching form for Rovers since the start of the new season.

Wise had a first-hand look at Davies, a homegrown product of Tranmere’s youth development system, when Leeds won 2-1 at Prenton Park on the opening day of the League One campaign.

Leeds have made a transfer kitty available to Wise, even though the club’s financial position is less than certain. A 15-point penalty, imposed by the Football League, has stacked the odds against the fallen Premiership giants climbing out of English football’s third tier this season.

Meanwhile, a late goal from Terry Gornell earned Tranmere all three points in their opening match in Division One of the Pontins Holidays League at Radcliffe Borough yesterday.

A game dominated by defences looked to be heading for stalemate when Adnan Ahmed picked up a clearance kick from his own box in midfield. His through ball set Gornell clear and he finished well past the advancing Bury keeper in the 86th minute.

“It was a game which could have gone either way and to be fair we would have been happy with a draw,” said coach Shaun Garnett. “But the team applied itself well on a hot day and showed plenty of commitment and enthusiasm.”

Rovers created a few half chances without being able to capitalise with Paul Henry finding the side netting in the second-half.

John Achterberg made one excellent save in the Rovers goal but was fortunate when the home side struck the bar with another effort.

Tranmere’s under-19s made a disappointing start to the Youth Alliance campaign, losing 2-0 at Wrexham in the North West Conference.

Coach Shaun Garnett had to admit Wrexham were the better side at Colliers Park.

Rovers went behind after five minutes and despite a stronger performance in the second half when they created a number of half chances, conceded the second goal on 89 minutes from a penalty.

There were consolations for Garnett however. He said: “We have 10 first-year scholars in the squad this season and six of them started on Saturday.

“It is going to be a learning curve for a lot of them this year because we will be younger than a lot of the teams we come up against.

“Defeats do show up things you have to work on.”

TRANMERE ROVERS RES: Achterberg; Holmes, A Taylor, Kay, Creswell; Jones, Henry, Ahmed, Fraughan (Blundell 58); Gornell, G Taylor. Subs: Beehan, McWeeney, Richardson, Moran.

ROVERS have no Alliance fixture this weekend and play their next game against Walsall at Raby on Saturday, September 1 (kick-off 11am).