Kidderminster manager Mark Yates has promised defender Lee Baker he is still very much in the first-team frame at Aggborough.

The 19-year-old, a virtual ever present in the side since joining in August, was left out in favour of new signing Craig Armstrong at Barrow on Saturday.

This came just a fortnight after Baker signed a 18-month deal to join the club permanently from Albion.

But Yates insists the left-back was rested rather than dropped and believes the teenager will come back all the better for the break.

The Harriers boss said: “Lee has done tremendously well for us. People forget he is only 19 and he’s played 26 or 27 games on the spin, so that’s a lot of games for a young player of his age – especially a defender.

“He’s done brilliantly and he’s a big part of our squad. I just felt it was right to give him a little breather. He will be back and he will be better for the little break that he has had.”

Yates was pleased with the debut of Armstrong and revealed that his signing ended a season-long chase for the 34-year-old.

The manager added: “Craig was at Cheltenham and went on loan to Burton when we tried to get him but missed out. His situation changed and he was available.”