James Bolton is keen to grab a late birthday present in this weekend’s Bank Holiday double feature.

The young defender turned 19 last Tuesday when Macclesfield  Town suffered a midweek defeat at Lincoln City – his second first-team appearance – and he didn’t even make it home in time to open his presents.

But, ahead of hosting former club Halifax Town and a trip to Gateshead, he’s hoping similar performances to last weekend’s game at Luton will bring mentor John Askey his first three-pointer of the season.

“I was in for training first thing last Tuesday,” explained Stoke-born Bolton, who first came to the Moss Rose at the age of 16 after seven years with his hometown team.

“We had that and then went off to the game that evening, I didn’t get in until about half-two and my parents were in bed so I never got the chance to open my birthday presents.”

And with Halifax looming this Saturday Bolton, who benefited from his loan spell with the Shaymen last season, wants to repay Askey’s faith in him by helping the Silkmen to a maiden Skrill Premier win.

“We’re still improving and still gelling so when we really click we can do someone some damage,” he said. “Apart from the late equaliser, more of the same as last weekend would do me, we’ve got better with every game and if we play like we did against Luton teams won’t be able to get near us.

“It’s been really good this season, the lads have looked after me so well, they’re not always on your case when you make a mistake – that helps and it breeds confidence, we’re a close-knit group thanks to John and Efe (Sodje).

“It’s obvious that the team spirit is so much better than it has been over the last year, the atmosphere in training and on the way to games helps us all – there are no big egos and we all stick together.

“The older lads such as Steve Williams help me massively when they give me advice, they’re trying to help me and I appreciate that, we have a good relationship.”

Having blooded him in every game so far Askey is clearly happy with the teenager’s progress. And while Bolton concedes that when such older heads as Sodje and Carl Martin are fighting fit once more, he may be consigned to a bit-part role, but he insists he’ll be ready when the call does come again.

“So far I’m happy with how it’s gone in the main but I don’t expect to be playing every game when everyone else is fit,” continued Bolton who spent virtually all of last season out on loan, at Workington, Stafford Rangers and at Saturday’s opponents.

“I can only do my best when I’m picked and try to impress in training but I know the experienced players will naturally get the nod ahead of me.

“I’ll just keep giving my best and if more injuries crop up I hope the gaffer won’t be afraid to throw me in.

“John being named manager was something I was happy about, he’s given Jay (Burgess) his debut and he scored early in that game at Newport – I saw that the goal went to him, I thought it was a mistake at first! I was happy for him though, he deserved his chance.

“He puts faith in the likes of us and hopefully we’ll be able to prove him right to do that.

“It’s not easy, the biggest difference in first-team football is probably the tempo and the pace of the game – it’s that bit faster and more physical, especially stepping up from the youth team.

“The loan spells helped me so much, Halifax is a really good club – they have the stadium and the fans, it’s far too good a club for the Conference North. I enjoyed it there and they were great for my career but I’ll be out to beat them this weekend.”

Meanwhile,?Askey will be hoping a week’s rest will benefit what he called his ‘walking wounded’ as Chris Holroyd left Kenilworth Road nursing a hamstring twinge and Sodje, Martin and Paul?Turnbull have been joined by Joe Connor in Mel Pejic’s treatment room.

CRAIG?Braham-Barrett has left Macclesfield for good. The jet-heeled left-back made 45 outings for the club under Steve King last season. He had joined Cheltenham on loan but has now made his switch to the Robins permanent.