PEWSEY Vale defender Jon Guthrie says that he will do whatever it takes to convince Crewe Alexandra boss Dario Gradi that he’s worth a deal at Gresty Road.

As reported in the Gazette & Herald last month, the 19-year-old, from Milton Lilbourne, first went on trial with the League Two club at the end of September after being spotted playing for Wessex League Vale and has since travelled up to Cheshire for training and reserve team fixtures.

Guthrie, who had never had trials for a professional club prior to Crewe’s interest, has been told that the Railwaymen are keen to keep him on their radar.

But the former St John’s School pupil was prevented from playing against Mansfield Reserves last night as he couldn’t escape his shift work at a local supermarket.

“I was told that they think that I’m good enough to play at that level and they’d like to sign me but a lot of it depends on money at the moment, so they’d like me to carry on going up there as much as I can,” said Guthrie.

“It was really unexpected and great to hear – I just want to carry on going there and prove that I’m worth it.

“I only got asked about playing against Mansfield last Friday so it was a bit short notice to get away from work but they’ve been really good so far with all the other trials and they understand what a big opportunity it is.

“I want this more than anything.”

Guthrie also featured for Crewe’s second string against Everton and Manchester United’s academy side last month, with his run-out against the Premier League champions’ youth team televised on the club’s television channel MUTV.

“I know the landlord at the Moonrakers pub in Pewsey (Jerry Kunkler) quite well and he has MUTV there so I got some of my friends and family there to watch it when it was on the next day,” he said.

“It was amazing playing at their training ground but it was a bit weird watching yourself on television.”