MANAGER Gary Waddock confirmed this afternoon (Wednesday) that Aldershot Town have signed Ben Starosta on loan from Sheffield United.

The Championship side announced the deal for the right back on their official website on Tuesday evening, while Waddock was busy running the rule on trialist right backs Lee Canoville and Kieron Murphy, in the 5-1 pre-season friendly win at Maidenhead United.

Both Canoville and Murphy were let go after that match and Aldershot confirmed the deal for Starosta - a one month loan agreement, with a view to a permanent move - today.

Starosta is expected to be available for Saturday's friendly at home to Leyton Orient at the EBB Stadium (Saturday).
Waddock has repeated all summer that, while the right back position was a priority after the release of Rob Gier, he was in no rush to fill the berth and would bide his time.

Trialists Justin Miller, Canoville and Murphy did not do enough to impress but, in Starosta, Waddock looks to have found the very type of player he most admires: those who are young, quick, athletic and ambitious.

Starosta, 21, has already talked of ambitions to break into the Sheffield United first team. That will have to wait, especially if the deal is, as Aldershot hope, extended long beyond the initial month.

“A month is an opportunity for both parties — us and Ben — to have a look at each other,” said Waddock. “But I am hoping for the loan spell to go well and then the deal can be extended. I think Ben will fit into the style of play that I like. He ticks all the right boxes for me but, until he’s actually played with us, you never quite know.”

Starosta, who is tall for a fullback, at six foot, was a right winger as a youngster and has pace aplenty, and also has Football League experience, like many of Waddock’s young squad.

He was on loan at two League Two teams last season: first Brentford and then Bradford City, making 21 appearances in west London and 15 in Yorkshire. So, that’s nearly a season’s worth of Football League experience at right back.

“I’ve been keeping tabs on him for a while, when he was playing in League Two last season,” added Waddock.

Starosta also has international experience — with Poland. South Yorkshire born and bred he may be, but he qualifies for Poland through a grandfather and was called up to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup last year, where he made four appearances.

The manager is keen for the competition in his squad to be intense. While Louie Soares and Chris Blackburn are options at right back, their specialist positions are elsewhere. So, it’s no surprise to hear that Waddock has other right backs in mind.

“We have a 19-year-old with us now too and he’ll probably stay with us for a bit.” Waddock added that the unnamed player may be involved in the Orient game tomorrow.

Rumours have been strong that Scott Davies would be signed on loan for the season from Reading — just as he was last year — and the news was finally confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m delighted,” said Waddock. “Especially when you look at the contribution Scott made to our success last season.” Davies is still recovering from an operation on his foot but Waddock expects the midfielder to be fit again by the end of August.
“We now have an awful of of quality and competition in the midfield.

“All the players will have to be on their toes if they want to start games — and that is fantastic news.”