Matthew McDonald joins Warrington Town

Warrington Town have signed young midfielder Matthew McDonald from Crewe Alexandra.

McDonald, 18, has spent the past two seasons at Crewe having previously been on the books at Everton.

He featured in the pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday as a trialist.

Manager Paul Carden said: “Matty is a real talent and has a really good pedigree. I spoke to people at Crewe about him and there was some shock that he wasn’t kept on – he was probably a victim of circumstance there as much as anything else.

“He made a surging run forward at the weekend and if we can get someone in alongside him who can give him that license to do that, that’s what I want him to do.

“He’s a powerful lad, his awareness is very good and if you watch him over a number of games, you wouldn’t believe he was 18 with the intelligence he plays with and his physical stature.

“That excites me and what also excites me is that he’s come to us just wanting to play football. That’s what you want – he’s hungry and wants to kick on and have a career.

“He’s studying to be an accountant because he knows the potential pitfalls of a career in football, but if he keeps doing what he’s been doing in the short time he’s been with us he will be able to shelve his day job for a while.

“I think he’ll be moving back up the levels to where he’s been.”

Warrington Town host Accrington Stanley in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, July 27, with a 7:30pm kick-off.