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KEVIN DEARDEN IMPRESSED BY KEEPER COMPETITION

The first team goalie coach has enjoyed working with James Shea and Marek Stech since their arrivals

10 July 2017

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Club News

KEVIN DEARDEN IMPRESSED BY KEEPER COMPETITION

The first team goalie coach has enjoyed working with James Shea and Marek Stech since their arrivals

10 July 2017

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Hatters goalkeeper coach Kevin Dearden has been impressed by the two new stoppers at Kenilworth Road as both put in decent performances in the 2-1 pre-season friendly victory over Bedford Town on Saturday.

Marek Stech was in-between the sticks in the first half, before being replaced by James Shea at half-time.
Dearden hopes the fact that both players have got a fair amount of experience under their belts will see them flourish with the Town.

He said: "The experience that they have got, that's why they have been brought in. Neither of them had a great deal to do today, but both took a good few crosses, were comfortable playing from the back and both were very vocal, which is exactly what we are looking for. So I am pleased with the start today.

"Already you can see that they are two good characters. Nice guys who want to work well and get on well with each other already, but want to work hard and progress and improve. Hopefully they will do."

The permanent deals for Stech and Shea is a real bonus for the club in Dearden's eyes, with both Christian Walton and Matt Macey recalled from their loans last season at important stages of the Hatters' campaign.

It's been a lengthy process narrowing down the keepers the Town wanted, but Dearden is delighted with the two keepers he will be working with for the forthcoming season.

"We had loan goalkeepers last season and it has been a well-documented situation, we always wanted this season to have our own goalkeepers," Dearden explained. "So it has been an ongoing process over the past couple of months to get what we believe are the right goalkeepers in for the football club.

"There's lots of names that have been on the list, crossed off the list. But we are very happy with the two that we have brought in."

Stech arrived at Kenilworth Road after spending three seasons in his home country with Sparta Prague, whilst Shea joined on a one-year deal after departing AFC Wimbledon, where he made 43 appearances last season. Dearden is looking forward to seeing the two compete for a starting place in Nathan Jones's side.

"James has got good experience, he has been promoted from League Two," added Dearden. "He has just come from playing a good three quarters of the season in League One. He's reliable and will give Marek competition for the shirt."


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