JORDAN TUNNICLIFFE has found opportunities limited but Phil Parkinson says the centre-back has got a huge part to play this season.

Tunnicliffe is one of six summer signings but has featured less than the other new recruits in the opening four games, making one substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw at Yeovil.

Aaron Hayden, Ben Tozer and Max Cleworth, the 2021-22 young player of the season who has made an impressive start to the campaign, are the three defenders selected for the first four matches.

But Parkinson says former Crawley star Tunnicliffe, absent from the squad for Saturday’s 5-0 win against Maidstone, is not the forgotten man and is pushing for a starting place.

“Max did well,” said Parkinson.

“It is good having the athleticism of Max and Aaron, Tozer kind of controls things and he has done well.

“Jordan is pushing really hard for a start in any of those three positions because his attitude and the way he has trained, he has impressed everybody.

“Sometimes when players come in, you kind of say the lads who have got the shirt have got to keep it but I feel Jordan is going to make a key contribution for us.”

Striker Sam Dalby picked up a knock when he appeared as a substitute on Saturday but Parkinson had good news to report.

“Sam took a kick to the calf and he missed training on Monday but he has had no reaction which is good and was going to join back in training yesterday,” said Parkinson.

Parkinson is continuing to run the rule over goalkeeper Rory Watson before making a decision on the 26-year-old’s future.

Watson, who was most recently at Scunthorpe United, was brought in as a short-term back-up to Mark Howard on a non-contract basis after Christian Dibble joined Rob Lainton on the sidelines and was due to play in a practice match yesterday.

“Rory was going to play in a game at Everton,” added Parkinson.

“He needs some match practice so we were going to have a look at him in that.

“Rory didn’t play a game throughout pre-season, you can train all you want but you need that 11 v 11 for concentration, dealing with balls over the top and the ball striking for a goalkeeper that you get in a practice game.”