Marcus Dinanga backed to be a success with AFC Telford United
AFC Telford United boss Rob Edwards feels new boy Marcus Dinanga can have a big impact for his side after a 'real positive' debut.
Dinanga, aged 20, has been signed on a season-long youth loan from Burton Albion and played the whole 90 minutes as the Bucks lost 1-0 at Curzon Ashton on Monday.
A very quick, strong centre forward, he spent last season at Matlock Town in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier – scoring more than 30 goals in all competitions and being named in the division's team of the season.
Dinanga also played 45 minutes of Telford's 1-0 victory against Shrewsbury Town in pre-season and Edwards is delighted to have got a deal done.
"If he gets a sight of goal, he is looking to pull the trigger – that's what strikers do," he said.
"I thought his work rate was really good and I thought he was threat, constantly, all night.
"I thought he was a real positive."
John Marsden was Dinanga's strike partner until shortly into the second period, with Matthew Barnes-Homer then up top with the on-loan Burton man.
On those partnerships, Edwards said: "We were two up with Marsden and Dinanga and I thought they were a threat.
"With the change, it's good to have another option and Barnesy offers something different.
"It's good to have those different options."
Edwards confirmed Marsden 'rolled his ankle' in the first half at the Tameside Stadium and that is something Telford have 'got to monitor' before heading to Darlington on Saturday.
Three players – midfielders Jon Royle, Joe Fitzpatrick and Will Marsh – were not included in the squad, but none are carrying injuries.
The Bucks chief has urged the trio to 'fight back' into the 16 for the trip to Blackwell Meadows and said: "There is 19 in the squad at the moment so it's competition for places.
"They've got to fight back. We have spoke to them about that.
"They have got the quality and the attitude to do that and that's football, ultimately, you have to keep working and keep believing."
He added: "Everyone has got the opportunity to try and fight their way into the team, we're four games into the season.
"It's still really, really early days and all the lads will have an opportunity."
