Gulls are glad to welcome back Dickson
TORQUAY United manager Gary Johnson has hailed the return to fitness of the experienced Ryan Dickson alongside the arrival of new signings as the Gulls try to improve on their eighth place after the first ten games of the National League season, writes David Thomas.
Dickson’s comeback from a knee injury had to be hastened before United’s 4-2 home win over Harrogate Town last weekend, when leading scorer Jamie Reid took his tally for the season to seven goals.
Six other senior players were on the sidelines, new Bristol City loan signing Robbie Cundy and ex-Port Vale winger Ben Whitfield both made their home debuts, while the 32-year-old Dickson joined the substitutes’ bench without a planned ‘warm-up’ friendly.
The former Plymouth Argyle midfielder made his first appearance of the season in the last half-hour of the win over Harrogate, prompting Johnson to say: “Ryan came on and did just the job we needed him to.
“It’s great to have him back, and it has been good to have him around the squad again over the last few weeks. The big thing is that he’s a leader in the dressing-room.
“We haven’t got that many in a young squad, but he’s one. He gets respect from everybody. He doesn’t shout too much, but he often comes up with a really good statement.
“When he says something, it’s always something that the other lads can take on board.”
Towards the end of an injury-hit 2018-19 season, Dickson returned – often as an influential substitute – to help United’s run-in to the National League South title.
Johnson stressed: “He has played at this higher level before, and we know he can do it again.
“Although he hasn’t played 90 minutes for so long, we knew we could bring him on for 15 to 20 minutes and do a job, because he has that experience.
“Hopefully we can build up his time on the pitch now and get him ready for a 90-minute stint.”
The arrival of Cundy – Whitfield is a permanent signing – brought United’s list of loan signings up to five, the maximum allowed in a matchday squad.