ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman believes he and his management team are beginning to reap the rewards with their loan signings.

The Reds have seven on the books at the moment and although some have struggled for regular game time, with only five permitted in a matchday squad at any one time, the likes of Dan Barlaser, Nick Anderton and Michael Ihiekwe have been a success.

And it is the impression midfielder Barlaser has made that has particularly pleased Coleman with the 21-year-old enjoying his first real run of first team football having spent a short period on loan at Crewe in League Two last term where he made just four substitute appearances.

The move to bring in the Newcastle youngster has paid off for the Reds and Coleman admits that there is always an element of risk when signing loanees based on Under-23 football.

“It is very difficult because they are playing a different type of football,” said the Reds boss. “We have to see if they can make the transition into men’s football because to all intents and purposes it is a different game.

“You have to sift through, you have to gauge whether they will fit the way you play and you don’t get every one right.

“I have got lots wrong in the past but you keep trying to get people who you think fit into our way of thinking, our style of football and to be able to cope with the characters in our dressing room - that is another big factor.

“We have been quite fortunate in that we are probably getting a little bit more right than wrong.”

Coleman added: “You would be surprised at how many players you have to sift through and how many players you get offered and sometimes you have to take a punt.

“I had watched a few videos of Dan but I actually got someone to watch him last year and I was on the verge of taking him last year when he went to Crewe.

“Newcastle put him to Crewe because they thought he would play more games and they were probably right as we had a settled side and we were doing well.”

The youngster has adapted well to life in the third tier but his loan spell ends on January 1 and he could be recalled by Newcastle and sent out on loan to a Championship club while Celtic have been another side mentioned in dispatches.

Coleman would be keen to extend the midfielder’s stay at the Wham Stadium having been pleased with his form so far this season.

“Dan Barlaser is a good footballer and will get better with the more exposure he gets to playing football,” Coleman added.

“He still needs to add a touch of responsibility to his game and be aware of the defensive side but he is a very good player.”

Of Stanley’s other loanees, Connor Hall (Bolton), Luke Charman (Newcastle), Ihiekwe (Rotherham) and Anderton (Blackpool) see their deals expire next month while Connor Ripley (Middlesbrough) and Matty Platt (Blackburn) are on season-long deals, although the latter is likely to return to his parent club in January.

The Reds return to action away at Plymouth Argyle in League One on Saturday.