Kevin Holt is in line to make his Derry City debut against Waterford on Friday night.
The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal at the Brandywell after arriving from Dundee United in the final hours of the transfer window; his arrival being heralded as an important and necessary addition to Tiernan Lynch’s squad.
“He’s a top player and a top person,” the City boss said.
“There are very specific people that we want to bring to this football club now and moving forward, and it’s more than just being a good player, and I think that Kevin ticks all those boxes. He’s integrated this week and he’s seamlessly moved into this squad as if he’s been here for a long time. We just want to wish him the best now and hopefully he goes on the pitch now and delivers.”
Lynch has, meanwhile, insisted that he will risk getting sent off again if it means coming to the defence of any his players.
The Derry manager was red carded on his Brandywell debut against Bohemians last week, sent to the stands alongside Bohs boss Alan Reynolds after players and staff from both teams became involved in a fracas on the touchline.
It means that Lynch will be in the stands against Waterford as he serves his one-game suspension, but he admits he has no regrets.
“From a professional perspective, it was the wrong thing to do, but if I was in the same position, I would do it again,” he stated.
“We’re talking a lot at this club about building a collective and an all-for-one and a one-for-all. I think that has to include me.
“I thought that Fergie (Shane Ferguson) was probably being mishandled and getting himself into a situation that wasn’t comfortable for him, and I acted as I did.
“It wasn’t necessarily in an aggressive manner and there was no malice or intent, it was more to defuse the situation and get us back playing again.”
Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch will be in the stands on Friday night
It is a busy weekend for the Candystripes, who also have a Monday trip to St Patrick’s Athletic on the agenda.
City defeated Waterford four times last season without conceding a goal, which means that Keith Long’s side will come to the Brandywell more determined than ever to get a result.
The Blues have already won on their travels this season, at Sligo Rovers, and Lynch is well aware of their threat.
“We’ve been watching Waterford now in their last two games,” added the Derry chief, for whom defender Ronan Boyce is an injury doubt.
“They are a really, really well organised team and a really structured team. Their concepts have probably been slightly different over the two games, at home to Shelbourne and away to Sligo. Regardless, it will be a hugely difficult task but, as we keep talking about, it’s about we do.
“We know where their strengths lie and we have to be very conscious of that and then we have to look at areas where we feel we can break them down and try and get some success and that’s what we’ve been working on.”