Kaloczi loaned out to Wingate
James Kaloczi clears the ball. Picture: Leigh Page - Credit: Archant
James Kaloczi has been loaned out to Wingate and Finchley for the first month of the season.
The 19-year-old has been used sparingly during St Albans City’s pre-season but started at centre-back alongside Tom Ward in Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Stevenage.
To say he was outstanding would be an understatement as he looked good in the air, strong in the tackle and distributed the ball confidently.
But, with Ben Martin returning to the squad from holiday and Darren Locke and Tom Ward ahead of him in the pecking order, Gray is sending Kaloczi to the Ryman Premier League side to get more minutes under his belt.
“We’ve had in-depth conversations with him and we have massive, massive hopes for him at the club,” explained joint manager James Gray.
“We just feel he needs experience away from here so he can get a new lease of life and maybe eight games in a month and pick up experience.”
When talking about his performance against Boro, Gray added: “I thought he was outstanding; he was comfortable on the ball.
Most Read
- 1 Suspected loan sharks arrested in Hemel Hempstead
- 2 Meet the artist behind The Queen's Platinum Jubilee mural in St Albans
- 3 Building company resurfaces bridleway to provide safe route for riders and walkers
- 4 St Albans shop showcasing small independents by renting out shelves
- 5 See inside this loft style apartment in a former hat factory
- 6 Foodies queue to try street food sourced, cooked and served in Herts
- 7 Train timetable shakeup due in St Albans and Watford from May 15
- 8 MoonWalk success for the St Albans cancer survivor and her Belgian Buns
- 9 Company of Ten's A Bunch of Amateurs production 'milks the comedy for all its worth' at the Abbey Theatre
- 10 Woman found in canal near M25 in Hertfordshire
“If he gets to where I think he needs to be aerially and strength wise then we have a real player on our hands. I’m really pleased for him because he’s been a bit down in the dumps recently as he’s not played as much as he would have liked.”
A month away from Clarence Park is just what Kaloczi needs to build his confidence so he can make a real push for the starting line-up when he returns, according to Gray.
“I see James as a centre-half. He can play in midfield but his best asset is at centre-half and [against Stevenage] he was outstanding.
“I know the manager at Wingate and I know they play the right way and they have good pitch and he’ll pick up experience. When he comes back he’ll be in the better position to fight for a shirt.”