Mansfield Town assistant boss Joe Dunne backing young keeper Aidan Stone to be a big success

Joe Dunne believes young Mansfield Town goalkeeper Aidan Stone has the right personality to succeed.
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Having once had a brief taste of the position, the Stags' assistant boss is well aware of the responsibility and pressure being the keeper commands.

“The goalkeeping position at any club is a unique position and a difficult position,” said Dunne ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Northampton Town.

“It's one that brings its own vulnerabilities.

Aidan Stone.Aidan Stone.
Aidan Stone.
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“It's a lot of responsibility. You're in the spotlight and if you make the slightest mistake it's ten-fold.

“That's why, mentally, it takes such a personality to do it.

“At the moment Aidan's personality is shining through.”

He added: “I actually had to play in goal once – back in 92 I think - and it's one of the worst feelings I've ever had.

“We managed to beat Blackpool, 3-2 I think it was. A player got sent off and a big centre back grabbed me and out me in goal.

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“I think it was because I used to play Gaelic football back in Dublin so I could kick the ball up the pitch a long way!”

Dunne said the keeper position had evolved a long way over the year.

“It is such an intense position and they are developing into such a different breed of player now -outfield, feet and so on,” he said.

“They are now an extension of an outfield player, so you have to call them footballers now as well. They are footballers who can use their hands and need all these skill sets.

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“Being mentally strong is one of them. When you are a young keeper you are being mentally tested all the time.”

He continued: “We have two keepers trying to push each other and Aidan is a young keeper who is still learning the game.

“He has come in and taken his opportunity but he has still got to keep working with Bobby (Olejnik) and the goalkeeping coach. Hopefully he is starting out on a bright future.

“The gaffer has decided it's his time at this moment to stake his claim to be the number one.”