BRADFORD (Park Avenue) may have suffered selection woes in defence of late, but that has provided a chance to shine for one luckless teenager.

George Eze has only just turned 18, but he was called up to Avenue's senior squad as long ago as September for their National League North game at Leamington.

But a lengthy injury lay-off soon after derailed his progress, and he slipped well down the pecking order.

Yet, with the club suffering a selection crisis manager Mark Bower has called the worst he's had in his career, Eze has started the last two games in an unfamiliar right-back spot.

Avenue have only conceded once in that time, with their goalless home draw against Scarborough last Monday followed by Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Peterborough Sports.

Bower said: "George defended really well against Scarborough.

"Our 3G surface really suits him, as it's what he's developed his game on, coming through our academy.

"It was a probably a bit more of an eye-opener for him on Saturday, with Peterborough being a physical side and it being a difficult surface.

"He'll learn plenty from that experience and did well given he was at right-back in both games (Eze is primarily a centre-half).

"I thought Louie Chorlton did a great job out of position at left-back in both games too, as he's a right back."

Bower conceded Peterborough were smart to "camp in" on a tricky surface on Saturday, as they proved impossible for Avenue to break down after going in front in the opening minute.

If that 1-0 defeat on Saturday was a blow to Avenue's survival hopes, the same scoreline tonight at rock-bottom Telford could prove catastrophic.

There are only nine games to go after this one, with Avenue three points off safety ahead of this crucial encounter in Shropshire.

Telford are 13 points adrift at the foot of the table, but Bower warned: "It's not a case of us being guaranteed a win as long as we turn up and play well.

"Since Kevin Wilkin came in as Telford's manager in October, they've picked up plenty of draws and suffered several narrow defeats.

"They have far greater resources than we do and they're in a false position really.

"But what's happened to Telford this season just shows what can happen in this league if you're not bang on it all the time."

Reece Staunton will be playing for Avenue tonight after serving a two-game suspension, with Bower hopeful of a couple more players returning to face Telford.

Though the situation was not as bleak as it was against Scarborough five days earlier, it was still a struggle to put out a competitive side in Peterborough.

Bower said: "We only had 11 senior players available still on Saturday.

"We've had about 10 to 12 players missing the last week or so and it's probably the worst selection crisis I've ever faced.

"You've just got to get on and do the best you can though, and we're hoping to have a few more lads back for Telford, like Danny Benson, who we knew was needed by his parent club Barnsley on Saturday.

"We've still got 30 points left to play for and I know we're capable of going on a winning run, as we've done so before this season.

"Often, our lads being written off is what brings the best out of them."