NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh hailed 16-year-old Regan Poole as a star of the future after his hugely impressive Football League debut.

Poole, who has already attracted the interest of Premier League giants Manchester United, could be on his way to Championship Fulham for another trial this week.

And Edinburgh admits that if he plays with the maturity he displayed in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury Town then the teenager won’t be an Exiles player for much longer.

“I thought he was outstanding,” said Edinburgh. “He looked accomplished and showed what a future he’s got ahead of him.

“We left it to the morning of the game before making the decision. We were waiting on Ismail Yakubu but we thought it might be one game too soon for Ish and we didn’t want to risk losing him for any longer.

“So we made the decision to bring Regan into the side and he didn’t really have a lot of time to think about it.

“I thought he was very good in his position and the youngsters have never let me down.

“They wouldn’t be in the squad if they weren’t good enough and this is what we want as the future vision of this football club.

“We want to bring youngsters through and see them establish themselves in the first team.

“If Regan carries on playing like that then I’m sure he won’t be at this football club for very much longer.

“But he’s a scholar with us so nobody can come and take him away from us,” he added. “We’re covered.”

A late red card for Andrew Hughes at Greenhous Meadow means that Fulham may have to wait before taking a closer look at Poole.

“Manchester United have asked for him to go back there and he was due to go to Fulham as well,” said Edinburgh.

“Kit Symons and Mark Pembridge want to have a look at him and he was due to go there this week but we might have to rethink that now.

“With the games coming up and if it is a suspension for Andrew Hughes then we may have to keep him around us.”

Another player who looks set to stay at Rodney Parade for a little longer is goalkeeper Joe Day, who repeated his heroics at Tranmere with another superb performance against the Shrew.

It was a third straight clean sheet away from home for the Peterborough stopper and Edinburgh says a deal is very close to extend his loan until the start of December.

“Talks are in advanced stages,” said the Exiles boss. “We’ve agreed that with Peterborough and it should be tied up this week.”

Lenny Pidgeley could be recalled for tomorrow’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at home to Swindon Town as Edinburgh looks set to make a number of changes.