Wilson backs Dimaio to cope with spotlight

Danny Wilson has backed Connor Dimaio to cope with being in the spotlight, after a goal and Man of the Match display on Saturday.
Chesterfield vs Crewe Alexandra - Conor Dimaio and Declan John at full time - Pic By James WilliamsonChesterfield vs Crewe Alexandra - Conor Dimaio and Declan John at full time - Pic By James Williamson
Chesterfield vs Crewe Alexandra - Conor Dimaio and Declan John at full time - Pic By James Williamson

The 20-year-old caught the eye with his performance on his Proact debut, for the club he grew up supporting.

And while his manager revealed that the youngster is one of the quieter members of the squad, he’s a different animal when he crosses the touchline on a Saturday afternoon.

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When asked if Dimaio was likely to cope with the attention he was receiving, Wilson said: “I’m hoping so. I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see.

“We’ve seen lots of players who relish being in the limelight, seeing their face on the tv when they score goals, and other ones who don’t like it too much.

“From what I’ve seen in training and during the game, I don’t think we’ll have a problem with that.

“Although he’s a quiet lad by nature, he’s very, very confident on the pitch.

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“He’s like a lot of players, they change their characteristics on the pitch as opposed to how they are off it.

“Off the pitch they can be quiet and unassuming, and then on the pitch quite the opposite and I think Conor is like that.”

Although it was Wilson who gave midfielder Dimaio a chance following his release by Sheffield United, and threw him into first team action, the manager is taking no credit for Saturday’s showing.

“I’ve not been rewarded. It’s the lad himself you’ve got to pat on the back.

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“He’s the one that’s got to perform, we just gave him an opportunity and a platform.

“We believed in in him but he’s got to go and perform himself, and he’s done that.

“In the two or three games he’s played recently he’s done very well.

“Let’s hope it’s the shape of things to come and he can get better and better.”

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While it may be early days for the home town boy, Wilson can see a bright future if he carries on being teachable.

“His attitude is great in training, he never causes you a problem and he’s always willing to learn and listen, and he does put into practise what he learns on the training ground.

“Let’s hope the start of a very good career for him.”

Wilson is also pleased with his other recent signings, who he says have all fitted into the first team group with ease.

“They’ve been fine, no problems with any of them,” he said.

“Tom (Anderson) has come in, it’s like he’s been here for years, terrific. The lads have accepted him and made him welcome, as they have with Declan (John) and young Conor and Jordan Slew. They’ve fitted in great.

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“It’s always nice as a manager when you don’t have any teething problems, they’ve all accepted each other very well.

“We do a lot of homework on them, they’ve got to be the right characters and if there’s a problem person coming into a good group you’ll have major issues later on in the season, that’s what we can’t afford at this moment.

“We need to make it as easy a transition as you possibly can for new signings, get them integrated as soon as you can, get them playing as well as they can. “When you get good characters like we have done, I don’t think there’s a problem.”