Tigers pair in to offer Stanley lift
JOHN Coleman has kept true to his word to strengthen his Accrington Stanley side in January after moving quickly to make two new signings.
Defender Harvey Rodgers and forward Jonathan Edwards have both joined on loan from Premier League side Hull City for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old duo give extra options to Stanley, and Coleman is glad to have them on board at the Wham Stadium.
“These two were our first two priorities but there still might be one or two more coming in,” he told the club’s official website.
“Harvey is a very accomplished player. He’s had a lot of people after him so we’re very pleased to get him.
“I’ve watched him player for the Hull under 23s and he’s a very good centre half. He’ll give us strength that we need for the months ahead.
“Jonathan has been banging the goals in for Hull’s under 23s, so again he’s much sought after and we were able to sort these deals out a couple of weeks ago so we’ve probably been proactive rather than reactive.”
Coleman now hopes that the arrivals of the new faces will motivate his current players to buck up their ideas.
“This has to be a kick up the backside to the existing squad. Our performances have been not bad lately but the results have been horrendous,” he said.
“The more hands to the pump we have, the more chance we have of turning the performances in to points.”
Rodgers has been with Hull since Under 10 level, and he is exciting to make the switch to Accrington alongside his teammate Edwards.
“It’s a great opportunity for wanted both to of come us out as andwe play first team football,” he said. “We have looked at the League Two table and it’s so close – a few wins for Accrington 23s. we can move back into the top half of the league.”
Edwards has experi- ence in the Football League after coming through the ranks at Peterborough, before going on to score 13 goals in 15 games for Hull under and He now hopes to replicate that form he produced for Hull U23s in a Stanley shirt for the rest of the season.
“I am really excited. I had a scholarship at Peterborough, I played three times for them and moved to Hull in the summer,” he said.
“I haven’t yet got a league goal so that’s my aim. I enjoyed the Crewe game, it was on the edge, it was good to watch and I hope I can help Accrington climb the table.”
Rodgers and Edwards are now expected to be part of the Stanley squads over the coming weeks and months.