Kelly purrs at back pairing

DARREN Kelly reckons he has found a winning combination at the back after watching Gavin Gunning work in tandem with James Wilson at Chester.

Gunning, a 24-year-old centre-back most recently at Birmingham City, played almost the full 90 minutes at the Deva Stadium before being substituted towards the end with bruising to a foot after a heavy challenge.

The former Dundee United man helped Athletic keep a clean sheet in a tame opening friendly and is a member of the Athletic party currently in Stirling for a week-long training camp.

Manager Kelly, who hopes to make Gunning a permanent signing, sees him as an important leader at the back.

Having only featured in 38 minutes of first-team action in the past year, he also knows that the man from Dublin needs further games under his belt.

“I have spoken to his previous club managers at Birmingham in Lee Clark and Gary Rowett. But I had seen Gavin play a couple of years ago anyway and he was supreme,” said Kelly.

“Yes, he needs the games as last season he had injuries and came back at the end.

“He and James Wilson showed a good understanding and there is a good balance in there in that Gavin is left-footed, which is important.”

As for the injury he picked up near the end of the 1-0 victory, Kelly was not overly concerned.

“Gavin is an excellent player and has been round a long time,” he added. “He has had a couple of little injuries in the past and it is one of those where he felt it.

“It was quite a heavy tackle but a natural tackle. Their striker went for the ball and caught the foot and you can’t fault him for that. I would say it will be a bit of bone bruising.”

Mike Jones, Jonathan Forte, Joseph Mills, Connor Brown and Dominic Poleon all sat out the game as a precautionary measure with the quintet nursing slight injuries.

Kelly admitted that his chosen formation — which appeared to be a form of 4-2-3-1 in the first half, with new signing Jake Cassidy leading the line — needs a lot more work with four weeks to go before the first Sky Bet League One outing at Walsall.

“We only worked on it on Thursday in terms of the shape in and out of possession and didn’t go deep into it,” he added. “It was more a basic understanding.

“As the weeks go on we will get more into it.

“We need to work on opening up opportunities in the final third, being more creative and shooting more.

“The one thing I ask is for them to go out and work hard and the rest of the stuff we will concentrate on in pre-season.”

Overall, ahead of the next contest behind closed doors against St Mirren on Wednesday, the manager said he left Chester content.

Goalkeeper David Cornell, who signed a one-year contract with the option of a second on the eve of the match, replaced Joel Coleman for the second half at Chester.

The former Swansea ’keeper (24) had been training with the club from the start of pre-season and was also wanted by Crewe.

BARNSLEY have signed Conor Wilkinson on loan from Bolton until January.

Wilkinson (20) scored three goals in 17 appearances while on loan with Athletic last season.