Sport

Waddock - I still rate Howell

By Charlie Oliver
November 27, 2008

Gary Waddock insists that Dean Howell still has a future at Aldershot Town after the left-sided player joined League Two rivals Bury on a month’s loan yesterday.

That day was the final day when loans were permitted ahead of January’s transfer window and Howell, who only arrived at Aldershot in the summer, continued on his itinerant footballing life.

Bury are Howell’s 13th club, which is some record for a player who only turns 28 tomorrow.

But Waddock is adamant that, for now, Howell remains in his plans.

“Dean can’t get in the side at the moment and, at his age and at the stage of career he’s at, he needs first team games,” Waddock said.

“At the moment Dean is still in my plans. He’s been frustrated at not being in the team and this is the best option for him at the moment.”

Howell last played for The Shots in the 5-1 debacle at Chesterfield on October 22.

After that Waddock moved Anthony Charles to left back and, once Anthony Straker, Howell’s chief rival in the squad, was fit, Waddock settled on a back four of Straker, Charles, Rhys Day and Chris Blackburn, which has looked steady as Aldershot’s defence has turned from the leaky to the watertight in the last month.

The arrival of Andy Sandell, another left-sided player, from Salisbury on loan, two weeks ago, was a further indicator that Waddock has lost patience with Howell, in his current form, at least.

Waddock has never given Howell an opportunity further forward on the left, where he started his career, favouring him in the fullback role in which he did well for Rushden & Diamonds last season against The Shots.

So impressed was Waddock that he made Howell his first signing of the close season, saying that the player ‘ticked all the right boxes’ as far as he was concerned. Howell had looked pacy, strong and versatile in the Conference and Setanta Shield but, as has been the case throughout his career, he has flattered to deceive in the Football League.

“I still rate Dean Howell,” said Waddock last week. “But by his own admission he has not played to the standard he would like this season.

“Hopefully he will come back from Bury with games under his belt, fit and raring to go.”

Bury are one of Aldershot’s league rivals and the two sides shared a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Rec in early October, in which Howell played at left back.

Bury, the then league leaders, led 3-0 before a storming comeback saw The Shots draw 3-3 and maintain their unbeaten home record, which still stands, nearly two months later.

Howell had an erratic game that day, starting and finishing the match well but enduring a torrid spell in the middle – as did the whole Aldershot team.

But Howell has struggled for consistency at Aldershot from the off. In the side as first choice at the start of the season — Straker was suspended — he lost his place after a poor first half against AFC Bournemouth in the second league game.

While he did win it back and, for instance, played superbly in the first half away to Notts County, he has looked vulnerable and hesitant at left back and matches for another club, at the same level, will probably do wonders for his confidence.

But whether that is enough to force his way back into Waddock’s plans is another matter entirely. After all, should Howell play well at Bury, they may want to keep him. And, at the moment, it is hard to see Howell being picked back at Aldershot ahead of Straker and Sandell. Things can change quickly in football, of course, but today Howell looks more than ever like a journeyman footballer.

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