ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is keen to re-sign defender Jimmy Dunne as the Reds chief starts planning for life in League One.

Stanley will be confirmed as League Two champions if they take a point from their home game with Lincoln City this afternoon or if Luton Town fail to beat Forest Green Rovers.

But, after securing promotion last week, Coleman is beginning to plan for life at a higher level.

And he wants Dunne, on loan from neighbours Burnley, to be a part of it.

The Clarets have taken up an option on Dunne’s contract meaning the Drogheda-born man will remain at Turf Moor for another season but Coleman remains keen on bringing him back to Stanley for the 2018-19 campaign, whether that be on another loan deal or in a permanent move.

Asked whether he would like to sign the Irishman, the Reds boss said: “I would love to bring in Jimmy Dunne.”

The 20-year-old has impressed since moving to the Wham Stadium in January.

He initially started life on the bench but since coming into the starting XI he has made 16 consecutive appearances and was unbeaten in his first 15, only tasting defeat for the first time in a Stanley shirt at Newport County on Tuesday.

Dunne began the season on loan at National League side Barrow where he made 21 appearances, scoring twice.

He joined Burnley after being released by Manchester United two years ago but has yet to make a senior appearance for Sean Dyche’s side.

He faces stiff competition at the heart of the Burnley backline with James Tarkowski and Ben Mee established as first choice pairing at Turf Moor.

But the rise of another Irish former Stanley loanee in Kevin Long could provide some inspiration to Dunne.

The 27-year-old joined Burnley in 2010 and subsequently spent time with Stanley, among several other loan spells, not breaking into the Clarets first team until this season but has since impressed and earned international recognition.

Long progressed from Stanley and the fourth tier to spend time in League One with Barnsley and the Championship with MK Dons before gradually establishing himself in the first team pictured with the Clarets.

Dunne has begun to follow a similar path, impressing in the National League with Barrow earlier this season before stepping into the Football League with the Reds.

Burnley are likely to see his immediate future in League One, whether that is with Stanley or another third tier side.

Dunne is set to spend most of pre-season with the Clarets and could remain at Turf Moor for the early stages of Burnley’s Europa League qualifying campaign, if the club secures a spot in Europe.