Last updated at 12:24, Tuesday, 20 July 2010

As the man who handed one of Carlisle’s new signings his break in first-team football, whilst coaxing a stream of effective performances from another new Blue recruit, Dave Penney is in a more advanced position than most to tell United supporters precisely what to expect from Sean McDaid and Jason Price.

Sean McDaid

Penney is currently in the jobs market following his departure from Oldham, but it was at Doncaster from 2001 to 2006 where the Yorkshireman made his managerial name.

During that time, which saw ‘Donny’ soar from the Conference to the heights of League One, Penney persuaded young left-back McDaid to move across the White Rose county from Leeds’ reserves and then lured the distinctive, afro-haired Price to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Now that both have since become Carlisle United players, it seems a useful time to seek Penney’s counsel. On both, the 45-year-old speaks with encouraging optimism.

First, McDaid. “Sean came on trial to Doncaster in 2005 after being released from Leeds,” Penney recalls. “Within a month we gave him a one-year contract and by Christmas we had given him another. That shows how quickly he impressed.

“He was named young player of the year and players’ player of the year in his first season. I always remember him as a bright footballer, a good defender and a really busy left-back.

“He hurt his knee and that really set him back. He has been free of it for a while now but he has had a long period out. For Sean, I would be really pleased to see him playing regularly again, because he is a good player and a really good pro.

“At Doncaster, we made a point of not signing anyone with a poor character, and Sean was no problem on that front.”

McDaid’s absence from Saturday’s squad for the friendly against Newcastle, as he adapts to the rigours of his first pre-season for three years, indicates how carefully Carlisle are attempting to manage the 24-year-old back to peak sharpness after so much wasted time on treatment table and substitutes’ bench at Doncaster in more recent times.

The word from Penney is that United have a proven and exciting League One performer on their hands if that path back to the front line is completed without any setbacks.

“He is a good little footballer, a good one-on-one defender and he likes to get forward,” added Penney.

“Hopefully his injury problems are in the past. He will need a run of games to get up to speed but he has certainly got the ability to do well.”

Price is known slightly better to Carlisle fans, after his productive loan spell at Brunton Park last season which led to this summer’s permanent arrival.

Yet the big frontman’s output under Penney at Doncaster remains among his career high points, and his former manager believes the Welshman can leave an equally distinctive mark in Cumbria.

“Jason has been around forever and a day,” said Penney. “He is experienced, and what you see is what you get.

“He has that knack of being in the right place at the right time. He doesn’t look pretty all the time, but he is certainly effective. He knows the game and he will get goals.

“When I was still a player at Swansea, Jason came in and did well. We go back a long way and I took him to Oldham last season.

“At Doncaster, I signed him as a player on the right of a midfield four who could get forward and get goals. Throughout his career he has played in different positions and he has that capability. He has more than enough experience to handle League One level.”

So far, so positive. Equally revealing are Penney’s views on another Carlisle player who he took to Doncaster five years ago: Richard Offiong.

“Richard was frustrating,” Penney said. “He has got all the equipment and tools that you would need to be a footballer, but Doncaster struggled to get the whole package on the pitch at once.

“He has pace to burn, is a good striker of a ball and a good side-foot finisher as well. But I didn’t get the best out of him.

“There is no doubt that he has all the ability. It is just a case of putting it all together.”

Penney would, naturally, prefer to be appraising players at his own disposal rather than offering his views on performers at another club. Yet this will remain his lot, until the next opportunity comes around.

“I’m just waiting for the merry-go-round to start again,” he said. “I’ve had some time off, but now the players are back training and playing friendlies, I’m starting to get itchy feet. I want to get back into it as quickly as possible.”

First published at 11:23, Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk