Corby Town manager Graham Drury has told the Corby Evening Telegraph that he believes new signing Paul Malone can be a real asset to the club.

The local defender has joined the Steelmen from Evo-Stik League side Stamford and Drury feels he will be a good addition for this season, and years to come.

"He's young and he is desperate to play for the club, which everyone who has been at the club has been saying for a while."

"It was all about the right time, when it came to making a move for him because he is under 24 and we knew we would have to offer him a contract at Corby and pay a fee for him.

"He's obviously a local lad, and everyone has been saying that they would love to see a Corby lad in the team. Now we've got one, hopefully it will lead to a few more bums on seats at our games with Corby folk coming to support one of their own."

Malone played for the Steelmen at Under 18 level before moving onto UCL side Corby S&L and then Stamford. And it was through his close links with Stamford, that former Daniel's boss Drury kept tabs on the player.

"Paul will bring a lot of passion and desire to us" he continued.

"What I like about him is that he was prepared top leave the comfort of Corby S&L, get his head down and move on to a higher level with Stamford and I like that determination in a player.

"He's strong aerially in both boxes and he can be a real asset for us defensively and attacking from set-pieces.

With Liam Dolman currently out with a Shin injury, Malone could be pitched in for an immediate start at Blue Square Bet North title contendors AFC Telford at The New Bucks head tomorrow night.

"The problem we have with Liam could be a bit more serious than we first thought and leaves us with only one recognised central defender in Phil Gulliver. Joe Wilcox has been fantastic but it is always nice o have another centre-half ready to slot in there."