By Tony Leighton

Macclesfield Town's 17-year old defender Elliott Hewitt has made only a handful of senior appearances but, Manager Gary Simpson has revealed to football-league.co.uk, the youngster is already attracting the interest of some of the country's biggest clubs.

Simpson said: "I gave Elliott his first team debut in the last game of last season, when he was still 16. He then got called up to the Welsh Under-17 team and did so well at a tournament in Sweden that he got selected for the Under-21 squad.

"He went on as a substitute for the Under-21's in a game against Hungary and impressed again, and since then I've been inundated with telephone calls from Premier League clubs asking about him.

"Clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham have all been in touch and so the vultures are circling, but it's understandable because in my opinion he's got everything it takes to play at the highest level.

"He's quick, he's strong, he's big - he's even got a long throw. He's one of those players that only come along once in a decade, and after playing in League 2 as a 16-year-old I think he's got a great future ahead of him."

If Hewitt is indeed set for a great future then, as Simpson admits, he may not be playing for the Silkmen for much longer. As with other clubs of similar stature, key players are difficult to hang on to and income brought in from transfers can be vital.

"If a club comes knocking and the price is right," said Simpson, "we often have to sell. We lost four first team players in the summer, for example, but those transfers brought in over £200,000 and that's a big help to the club's finances."

The Silkmen will get another financial boost when they visit Premier League Bolton Wanderers for a Carling Cup second round tie next week, Simpson's team having knocked out Championship side Hull City with a great 2-0 away win in the last round.

After winning 4-0 on Tuesday evening at Hereford United to kick-start their npower League 2 campaign, they should head for the Reebok Stadium in confident mood - particularly if they can collect another three points when they face Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Simpson said: "The win at Hereford was our first in the League this season and that was important, it means we're up and running now, and after the tremendous result we got at Hull the lads are really looking forward to the Bolton game.

"It's a good game for the club, it's good for the fans as well because Bolton's not too far to travel, and we'll be going there to enjoy it. Bolton will obviously be big favourites, but nobody gave us a chance of beating Hull so you never know."

Another shock Carling Cup win would be a massive tonic for Macclesfield, but maintaining their Football League status will remain the club's top priority in what is Simpson's second full season in charge.

Last term he guided the Silkmen to their highest-placed finish - 15th - for six years. But he will make no far-reaching claims for the campaign ahead. "We'll always look to improve," he said, "but the first aim will be to get to 50 points as soon as possible."

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