EXASPERATED Dorchester boss Mark Morris says full back Michael Walker is too laid back for his own good.

And he reckons if he wants to make it as a footballer the 20-year-old ex-Terra, who quickly had league scouts following his progress when he first made his mark in Dorchester's first team, needs to sort out his mental approach.

"He has all the ability in the world, but I can't give him the right attitude," said Morris. "That has to come from him.

"He has to decide quickly whether he wants to be a footballer or not, or he is going to end up with nothing."

Morris' outburst came after the left-sided defender failed to take advantage of a great chance to win back his starting place in Monday's 2-0 home defeat by Thurrock.

Walker was dropped to the subs' bench for the game at Welling on Saturday with Morris favouring his other specialist left back Simon Radcliffe, who spent most of last season as his deputy.

After Dorchester won 4-1 and Radcliffe turned in a faultless display, the boot was on the other foot and Walker again had to be content with a subs' role against Thurrock.

But when Radcliffe was injured in the second half, he got the opportunity to stake his claim again.

However, his performance mystified Morris.

"If that had been me 20 years ago and someone had taken my place in the team I would have been roaring up and down like a lunatic trying to catch the manager's attention," said the veteran of

more than 500 football League games for clubs like Wimbledon, Sheffield United and AFC Bournemouth.

"But there just wasn't any urgency about his play whatsoever and he did absolutely nothing to try and force the game for us when he came on and that is something I just can't understand."

* Radcliffe has a groin strain but Morris says he could be fit for Saturday's trip to Maidenhead. The Magpies manager is also hopeful that the ankle injury which sidelined Carl Poore at the weekend might have cleared up by then.

* Morris said former Terras striker David Laws needs to take "a serious look at what he wants to do" after he pulled out of Saturday's squad a few hours before kick-off.

"He just said he would be away for a week," said Morris. "I can't do anything with players who don't turn up and if he wants to leave all he has to do is tell me and I will find players who do turn up."