IT'S been like turning the clock back for Shakers defender Colin Woodthorpe since the arrival of Jon Daly and Dave Challinor on loan from Stockport County.

The experienced Woodthorpe - the senior professional in Graham Barrow's squad, he turned 35 on Tuesday - spent five years with the Edgeley Park club after spells with Chester City, Norwich City and Aberdeen.

And he knows first hand just what manager Graham Barrow sees in both young striker Daly and central defender Challinor.

Liverpool-born Woodthorpe also had a hand in bringing 19-year-old Daly to Gigg Lane, contacting former County teammate Aaron Wilbraham for his phone number to put him in the picture.

"I knew Jon was going off to Ireland for New Year so I rang him to look after himself because it looked like he was to be joining us," he explained.

"He's a real handful on the pitch because he was a nightmare in training.

"You'd have to keep telling him to take it easy because he'd always be trying to rough you up.

"I wouldn't look forward to playing him in a real match because he's such a big, strong lad."

As for Challinor, Woodthorpe reckons the central defender is underrated as people concentrate on his prodigious long throw-in ability too much.

"I've had to defend one or two of his throws when he was with Tranmere and they are very effective," he added.

"But there is a lot more to his game if he's allowed to do what people know he can do.

"I think he has been pigeonholed as one thing to a certain extent and that's really unfair."

Woodthorpe has also been impressed by Tom Kennedy, since the 18-year-old stepped into the left back slot he's so familiar with.

He even predicts that big clubs could soon be knocking on the door if he continues to make progress.

"You never really need to help Tom too much because he's good enough," he said.

"But he will take things on board because he's a good lad and is keen to learn," he said.

"If he gets some games together and a run in the team there's no doubt he'll be away."