KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are asking too much too soon from find of the season Simon Russell, confesses boss Stuart Watkiss.

The 19-year-old winger has been the silver lining on a cloudy campaign for Kidderminster since being thrown into the first team.

But Watkiss is wary of hampering the Hull youngster's progress in the game by burning him out.

"I think he is a terrific little player and he's a great lad whose attitute and work ethic are first class. Are we asking too much of him? Yes we are.

"He's at a stage of his footballing education where ideally we would put him in for two or three and if he's doing well enough leave him there.

"But I think you need the option of bringing him out on occasions which we did last weekend." Watkiss admitted the ginger winger's slight build made it difficult to accommodate him in the rough and tumble of a relegation scrap.

"He's difficult to fit into a rigid system because when he comes into contact with a member of the opposition he's first to admit physically he's not the strongest and 99 times out of 100 he will come off second best.

"We've tried to play formations that get him into little pockets of space where he can get on the ball and make his ability tell.

"I had a chat with him in the week and told him he's a player I want to keep at the club this year and next and hopefully he'll continue to go from strength to strength."