Graham Turner is full of praise for his young charges (Getty Images)

Hereford United boss Graham Turner thinks much of the credit for his team being second in League Two should go to his young players.

Local boy Sam Gwynne has impressed Turner and loan players Lee Collins and Robbie Threlfall have also become Edgar Street favourites.

Turner admits he has taken a gamble on some of his youngsters.

He told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "Until you put them in there, you're not sure if they will do it or not."

He reminds me of Steve Bull when he came to Wolves Hereford boss Graham Turner on Theo Robinson

He added: "It's the same with the loan players. They might be playing for Liverpool's reserves, but there isn't the same emphasis on getting results.

"You look at Lee Collins from Wolves and Robbie Threlfall from Liverpool and it's great experience for them.

"I think that their parent clubs appreciate the fact that they're playing in somebody's first team and getting that experience."

Robbie Threlfall is one of those who have impressed Turner (Getty Images)

The deal that took Lionel Ainsworth to Vicarage Road included extending the loans of Toumani Diagouraga and Theo Robinson at Edgar Street for the rest of the season.

"They've done extremely well," he said. "Toumani in midfield has worked hard very hard for the side and is a good player.

"Theo is a very scopey player. There is plenty of room for improvement with his touch and his passing, but what a finisher.

"You can't say that he is exactly the same but, in some ways, he reminds me of Steve Bull when he came to Wolves.

"People used to complain about his first touch but I always used to say that his second touch used to finish up in the back of the net."