Despite only making his debut less than two weeks ago, United manager Gary Johnson has been delighted with the impression Kevin Dawson has already made at Plainmoor.
Despite lacking recent match action at parent club Gloucester City, Dawson’s commitment to the cause has seen him rack up much more game time than was initially expected, culminating in the experienced midfielder playing the whole 90 minutes of Saturday’s home clash against Wealdstone.
“Me and Downesy were talking to each other on the line there, and one minute Downesy’s saying ‘I think he’s done’ and I say ‘No, we need him out there’ and then I say ‘I think he’s done’ and then he says ‘I think we’ve got to leave him out there’,” quipped the Gaffer.
“He’s got that heart and that energy, that he can go beyond the call of duty. He could run a marathon, and I always say that if suddenly after running a marathon, a lion jumps out from a fence and is just about to chase you and eat you, you’ll sprint – or most will. Some will just lay there and die, but Kev won’t.
“Kev has always got that little bit extra, that you can rely on when you need it.”
The know-how that Dawson, and United’s newest loan signing, Jack Stobbs, both bring to the squad, is sure to be a big boost over the coming weeks, as the 2022/23 campaign edges towards its climax.
“They bring in that experience, they’ve been there and done it.
“It’s very difficult to get experienced lads in, especially in our situation, and so you either have to know them and they trust you already, or you need somebody that loves playing football, and is not at the moment, but has still got that ability that we think we can get out of them.”