Ryan's Game

JOHN Sheridan has had his eye on Ryan Brunt for quite some time, and is pleased to be able to work with the forward for the first time.

21-year-old Brunt joined the Greens this week shortly after his release from Bristol Rovers – but Sheridan has been closely following the striker even before he became the Argyle boss, scouting the youngster as a Stoke City academy player whilst he was in charge at Chesterfield.

A lot has changed since for both John and Ryan since then, but the manager is pleased to finally get his man.

“I think he has got really good potential – I have liked him for a few years,” said John.

“He got a bad injury a year-and-a-half ago, but I remember when he was at Stoke I tried to get him. He did really well at Stevenage on loan, so I am pleased.

“He just gives us something different to Lewis [Alessandra], which I have been after. He was always more of a target man.

“Obviously I have been trying for the last two or three weeks to bring one or two players in. I am glad to bring Ryan in.

“I think he has got of the attributes to being a successful player for us. He is a really good age, and it is about getting a bit of confidence back in himself. Hopefully he will come in and do well for us.”

Brunt has had to endure knee and ankle problems since leaving the Potteries in 2013, but John would not have signed that player if he thought any injuries could affect his career at Argyle, and believes he has the managerial ability to tap into the striker’s potential.

“He went to York this year, and did really well at Stevenage," said John, "so I am very confident. He has had a little bit of an ankle injury, but that was just a two-week thing, just a little twist of the ankle. He is in training today, he is fit, he is available for Saturday.

"I think with Ryan, if you look at this record you think he has not scored enough goals, and I believe I can get the best out of him.

“He is a good age and a good addition. He is somebody who wants to come and play, and he is different to what we have got. I think he is going to do really well here. He must be full of beans now that I have signed him.

“I have got him, he is coming to a decent team who are just on a little bad run at the moment. I think he will fit in very well for us.

“I do not look at any negative sides. I think he is going to score loads of goals for us, and hopefully he will do that.”