Source: Northern_Echo
Staunton continues search for new blood
STEVE STAUNTON is continuing his search for new blood this week after his raw recruits emerged from Saturday's victory against Burton Albion with flying colours. Nathan Mulligan, Stuart Giddings and Mor Diop may be rookies in League Two, but Staunton's faith was rewarded when they all played a major part in making it two wins from two for the manager at The Northern Echo Arena. With home-grown Corey Barnes and Curtis Main putting in mature performances that belied their years, Staunton's policy of promoting inexperience is already reaping rewards. Eyebrows were raised when Staunton dipped into non-league to bolster his squad, while his decision to select youth team products ahead of more experienced players looked to be an equally bold move. But the manager and his assistant Kevin Richardson are happy to field the likes of Giddings and Mulligan whom they know received a sound footballing education at Coventry City and Middlesbrough respectively. The manager accepted that several of his players still possess rough edges that he will attempt to polish up on the training ground over the coming weeks. But Staunton has seen enough to convince him that supporters can look forward to their side moving on an upward trajectory. There's more to come from Nathan, said the gaffer who handed the former Boro Academy product his first start on Saturday after signing him from Norton and Stockton Ancients. It's a big step up to this level from where he's come from. It's a little bit quicker and he found the pace a little bit quick but the game was a good work out for him. He's had a bit of coaching at Middlesbrough but he's been played as an orthodox winger, so he needs a little bit of work, but he's got some great qualities as well. Despite suffering a broken nose Giddings played a full 90 minutes against Burton and lived up to Staunton's prematch billing that he is the type of uncompromising character to add steel to Quakers' back four. The only concern we had about taking Stuart was his old (knee) injury but he had a medical which he passed and over the last 18 months he's had no problems, played plenty of football and he's back to his best,'' he said. He knows the game, he's been coached properly, he knows his position and I think you could see that in his all-round game because his defending was exemplary.