GREAT Wakering Rovers manager Dan Trenkel has backed young midfielder Tom Ranger to go on and play professional football after he scored a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 6-1 demolition of Burnham Ramblers.

The 21-year-old netted a treble, taking his tally to 11 for the season, along with a brace from Jay Nash and a goal from captain Lewis Sparrow, to move Rovers 19 points clear of the relegation places.

And Trenkel says he knew Ranger would be a valuable addition, when he joined from Hullbridge Sports in the summer.

“Tom Ranger was my number one target when last season ended,” he said. “In fact I think I phoned him up the day after the season finished! Tom is still developing but every player at our club appreciates just what a good player he is and I think he can go all the way and play professionally.

“I will be pushing him as much as I can to try to make that become a reality. I’m sure there will be clubs in and around our division who want him, but he has a good relationship with us, he isn’t money-orientated and I will look after him properly.”

Trenkel said it was nice to go back to his old club Burnham and see some familiar faces, but admitted it was more pleasing to see his side bounce back from their heavy 6-1 defeat at AFC Sudbury on Saturday.

“We were looking for a reaction from the boys after Saturday’s performance. On Saturday we started to show desire and passion, but only at 4-0 down. At Burnham it was about showing that from the start and we did that.

“I know that, when the boys fancy it, we are one of the best sides in the league and Tuesday that showed. Burnham have got some good results recently but we absolutely blew them away and attacking wise I thought that we were just incredible.”

Trenkel also addressed Max Kent and Stuart Hepburn’s decision to miss Saturday’s game at Sudbury to go and watch Chelsea play Bradford City in the FA Cup.

Last week, the Rovers manager admitted he was “disappointed” at their decision, with the pair coming in for criticism on Twitter consequently.

“It’s been blown out of all proportion to be honest,” he said. “Things like this are part and parcel of being a small club with very limited finances.

“If we had a huge squad like virtually every other team in our league it wouldn’t have caused such a stir but the fact is we only have 16 fit players at present. They are not on a contract, and we don’t have the financial muscle to carry a big squad or make it feel like a player is losing out on their mortgage money if they don’t play.

“Both were in the squad on Tuesday and Max got on and did well. The players love Max and Stuart and they are a big part of our squad.

“I’ve seen some officials from some local teams in the Ryman and Conference leagues saying they’d have done this and that, but the reality is we aren’t one of those teams. If they had two players unavailable they have the finances to go and sign two more. We haven’t. I wouldn’t dream of telling another manager/chairman or whoever at another club what to do with his players.”