MATTY Platt got his first taste of Stanley action in midweek and the young defender is keen for more.

The centre back, on loan with the Reds from Blackburn Rovers, made his debut in the 6-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Mansfield Town on Tuesday night and despite the heavy defeat, is determined to push for a regular spot in John Coleman’s side.

Platt was a regular for Rovers’ Under-23s last season, featured for the first team in the Checkatrade Trophy and also spent time in the National League with Barrow in 2017.

And the 20-year-old wants to kick on during his spell at the Wham Stadium, starting with a place in the first choice XI.

“I have come here to play games and it is just a case of trying to impress the manager in training and games and I will look to do that and then hopefully cement a place in the team,” said the youngster.

“I fully understand it won’t be easy to win a place in the team.

“Just because I have come from Blackburn doesn’t mean you are going to walk into the team so I will have to impress and when I get the opportunity take it.

“It is a big step up from where I have been playing in the Under-23s at Blackburn but that is why we come on loan to gain these experiences and hopefully push on into the first team here and then look to the future at Blackburn.”

Platt said he has settled into life at Stanley quickly, and believes the move down the M65 can help him develop as a player.

“The lads are all very welcoming and I have settled in quite quickly,” he added.

“It is nice when you are happy off the pitch you play better on the pitch.

“It is only 20 minutes down the road to Blackburn so it is a good move in that sense and it is a very good level to play at as well. It has been a good move for me.”

Stanley will look to put a disappointing cup defeat to Mansfield behind them when Charlton Athletic visit tomorrow in League One.

And Platt, who partnered Mark Hughes in the middle of the back four, is taking the positives from the 6-1 reverse.

“It wasn’t a great result but I was delighted to make my debut and hopefully in the future we can do better than we did on Tuesday night,” he said.

“Going 1-0 up I think we needed to manage the game a little better, once they got one back I think they got two and three quite quickly after that. We lacked a bit of experience in the back four and maybe that contributed and we need to learn from that going forward.”