Town manager Paul Hurst says summer signing Janoi Donacien is starting to settle into life in the Championship and remains confident that the 24-year-old summer signing from Accrington Stanley has what it takes to make it in the second tier.

“I fetched him here because I feel that he’s good enough to play at this level,” Hurst said. “And I think he’s very humble and maybe he first came in and thought, not that he’s made it, but is just kind of surprised himself to be where he’s at.

“But obviously I’ve said from the start, the lads that you bring in, I don’t want them to be satisfied or feel ‘That’s it now’, I want them to kick on and try and really impress.

“Take Gwion as an example, he’s forced himself to at least be on the radar of the Wales national team and has got a place in that squad the other night.

“With all the lads, whether it’s other Championship clubs, Premier League clubs, you want them to kick on and really impress and I think he’s starting to settle down now and hopefully he can show everybody what he’s about on a consistent basis.”

Donacien’s start has been hampered by having been the sixth loanee to miss out on games prior to Jon Walters suffering the injury which curtailed his spell back with the Blues.

However, Hurst feels the St Lucian is finding his feet having leapt two divisions: “I think partly that is understanding the step up that he made. He would have been a League One player this year but missed that league out and there’s no doubt there is a jump, of course there is, but at the same time I think he’s got the attributes that can make him able to succeed at this level.

“At times I think he’s shown some of those. Other things he certainly needs and wants to get better at, which is important, but I think he can be a good player for us.”

Photo: TWTD

Woodbridgian added 19:40 - Oct 18 Hope he's right but have to say I've seen no sign of that being the case!
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rugbytomc added 20:31 - Oct 18 He better be able to make it at this level after the amount you paid for him! And try playing him on the right not the left. We didn't need another left back we have at least 3 already
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shortmarine1969 added 20:47 - Oct 18 No better than Josh .E from the games played so far.!!
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 23:45 - Oct 18 The world according to Hurst: every player who was here before I joined were overrated; every player I have signed are simply brilliant.
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harlingblue added 00:00 - Oct 19 Donacien when played at right back, looks a good addition to our squad. I think that if played in his rightful position could become a very accomplish Championship player.
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Cakeman added 06:14 - Oct 19 Agreed harlingblue and to be fair Donacien hasn't had a run of games to show his worth.
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jayessess added 13:00 - Oct 19 Judged in isolation I think Donacien's done well enough, looks up to it at this level more or less. But given our budget constraints I still think it was downright weird to spend £700k signing a 24-year old full back from League 2, when we already had one of the best full backs in League 1 (at 21 no less!) under contract.
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