Peter Jackson sees City’s youth system as the “lifeline” of the club after promoting Darren Stephenson into the ranks to face Shrewsbury.

The powerful 18-year-old striker will be on the bench tomorrow after catching Jackson’s eye with goals in the last two reserve games.

And the temporary boss hopes he will be the first of several starlets to be fast-tracked into action before the season is over.

Jackson enjoyed great success with Huddersfield by blooding young talent – and would love to repeat the trick at Valley Parade.

He said: “The lifeline for this club is promoting youngsters. I believe that if they are doing well in the reserves, then they should get the chance.

“Home fans and clubs love young players coming through. If I throw Darren on, they will get right behind him.

“But you have to be good enough to step up to the mark. I’m not just doing it to make up the numbers.

“I want players here to develop and get that experience in the first team. We did it at Huddersfield and it became a selling point for the guys going out looking (for young players).

“We had eight or nine first-teamers from the youths and that attracted better youngsters in the area.

“They didn’t go to Leeds, Bradford or the Sheffield clubs because I was a manager who firmly believed in giving youth a chance. That’s my vision for this club.”

Stephenson’s call-up is the reward for his performance against an experienced Derby second string in midweek.

“Darren played against Championship defenders and didn’t look out of place,” said Jackson.

“He was strong and aggressive and showed me he has a chance of making it as a professional footballer.

“It will be a big game for him tomorrow and hopefully the first of many.”

Louis Horne, another who played well in the reserves, is on stand-by for his first senior start to replace the injured Luke Oliver.

Horne may get the nod over Lee Bullock to play centre half, unless Jackson opts to move Lewis Hunt across and give David Syers another run at right back. But Syers is pushing for the midfield role left vacant by Jon Worthington’s one-game ban.

Horne has recently returned from a loan spell with Halifax, where he was restricted to only one appearance.

Jackson was presented with another problem yesterday when Kevin Ellison strained his thigh in training.

The Rotherham winger is likely to miss three weeks but the interim boss has again ruled out recalling Omar Daley.

Jackson said: “When suspensions and injuries happen, it’s a chance for other squad members. Hopefully the players coming in will step up and do well for me.

“We’ve got seven points out of nine so we’re moving in the right direction. It’s a lot healthier than three weeks ago.”