AN ACE UP THE SLEEVE

Alan Lord on the new Stockport County

By Alan Lord

Anyone who has watched Kristian Dennis and Rhys Turner in the pre-season friendlies will be excited about the coming season.

Kristian has so much potential and has showed glimpses of that in the games he has played so far.

Rhys? Well he's so fast and is already a very good player - unbelievable for his age. He has pace to burn and I can't see many defenders living with him this season.

Then you look at Kyle Jacobs. He's been so solid in pre-season. Just watching him I already know he is a player who is going to give us 7/10 or 8/10 performances every game this season.

But, for me, one of the little gems we've uncovered this season is Iain Howard.

He is the kind of player who often doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He is the fittest player at the club and puts in a double shift every match. He has a phenomenal work-rate. He gives us a solid base on what is usually a weak side of the pitch.

Jordan Fagbola could have an amazing season for us. He had an amazing season for a newcomer last time out and will be even better for us this season - he's already showing the signs of it and will be a major player for us.

Stephen O'Halloran is a traditional left back but can also be used as a marauding wing back and is equally as comfortable in either role. He's a very versatile player.

Kieran Charnock has a wealth of experience and is the best competitive close-marking centre-back we've seen here for some time. We will get a competitive, stable and solid performance from him every match - he's our Mr Dependable.

James Tunnicliffe will show us his versatility this year too - while he's a centre back, potentially a sweeper in a three-man centre-back line-up, he can also play as a holding midfielder and maybe used in that role at some point this season.

Iain Howard

Ian Craney is all set to be a major player at the club this year. He gives us solidity in the middle of the park, is a great passer of the ball and is Mr Lively in the dressing room. He has incredible experience of the leagues too - invaluable to pass on to some of the younger lads.

Jamie Hand will add the 'devil' we need in the centre of the park. He absolutely hates an opponent getting the better of him and will never, ever give up. He gives us a real competitive edge.

Phil Jevons is a constant goal threat. He's a target man, a back-to-goal centre forward who will bring the young strikers around him into play and link many of our attacking moves.

"We'll continue to look at the trialists...because you never know when the next Alex Kenyon may just pop out of the barrel"

Brandon Windsor started out life as a centre half and converted to a centre forward. He's only 18 and gives us that versatility that we want from many of our players this time around.

We've got two great shot-stopping goalkeepers too. Ian Ormson has great hands and gets down quick and there's a lot more to come from him this year.

Lewis King is like having a goalkeeper and a sweeper rolled into one because he reads the game and the balls over the top or into the channels so well and is always there to clean up - a real smotherer of a keeper.

We'll continue to look at the trialists and maintain those links with Myerscough College - we had six Myerscough students in the team versus Cheadle Town - because you never know when the next Alex Kenyon may just pop out of the barrel. Most of them are maybe 12 months off the level we require but matches like the Cheadle Town game are perfect to blood them in and see how they cope.

For me they were confident and comfortable in that second half. And they all displayed good attitude too.

As for the team for this season - we are ahead of where I thought we would be training-wise. We have been doing lots of 'disguised running' in training and the players are all responding well. Over the next few games we will see the first team start to play more of those matches and the trialists start to filter away.

So that by the time of the St Mirren match most of the first team will be playing for about 70 minutes.

I think we need another defender, one that can possibly play a dual role and also be comfortable as a full back when required.

We need another midfielder too. And it would be nice to have another striker to give us competition up front.

One of the remaining signings may very well be made right towards the end of the window because sometimes you don't know what's available and out there till the major business of the pre-season is concluded. So it is wise for us to leave a little leeway to take that opportunity if it arises.

We are tracking a player right now, a forward, but I can't say much more than that because he is also being looked at by a couple of other clubs and I don't want to spoil our chances before the deal is done.

Animo et Fide