ASSISTANT manager Matt Gardiner believes there is more to come from Kyle Haynes after the full-back impressed on his Worcester City debut.
The defender was signed from lower-league Stourbridge and drafted straight into the starting XI for Sunday’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Bradford Park Avenue.
Despite the result, Gardiner highlighted the 23-year-old as one of the bright sparks in an otherwise forgettable encounter for the Blue and Whites.
“I thought Kyle had a good debut,” he said. “He is up and down, he is getting used to the players.
“He has only met them today but I thought his overall performance on this surface was good, he found some of the Aggborough bobbles at the end but I think there is more to come from him so I am pleased with his debut.
“We have waited to get him in and I thought he did well.”
Haynes will be seen as a direct replacement for last year’s player of the season George Williams, who departed for League One Barnsley, but Worcester’s assistant insisted comparisons would not be drawn between the two.
“In fairness to George and in fairness to Kyle they are different players,” Gardiner added. “But he fits the mould that I want to see in full-backs where they can take people the other way and they have got good crossing.
“There is more to come from him definitely, he will get used to the way we want to play and it just gives us energy on that side.”
The signing will also come as a boost to City as the club confirmed Tyler Weir, their other regular starting full-back, will be out for up to ten weeks after he broke his foot and damaged ligaments in the Avenue loss.