Magunda can be a terrace hero, says Holleran

Part of the Saints squad which won promotion to the Blue Square Bet North last season, Magunda turned down a number of more lucrative offers to join his home-town club.

Equally at home in defence or midfield, the 23-year-old has been earmarked to fill the holding role held first by Lee Downes and then Barnfield last season.

And Holleran believes the former England youth international will quickly endear himself to the New Windmill faithful.

“He’s a player I looked at when he first came out of Leicester,” said Holleran.

“Joe’s got a great pedigree. He did ever so well as a youth player and ended up at Brackley where he did well in periods.

“He’s a good holding, passing midfielder, is a good size and ticks all the right boxes.

“He turned down a few deals to come to Leamington and he’s got all the attributes to be a fans’ favourite.”

Magunda graduated from the Academy at Leicester City and featured for the Foxes’ reserve side before a loan spell at Conference outfit Woking in 2008.

After his release from Leicester, the former Trinity School pupil made 21 appearances for Kings Lynn before making the switch to St James Park after the Linnets were wound up in 2009.

Having represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level, his career appears on a downward trajectory, with injuries having blighted his 2011-12 campaign.

However, Holleran believes a move to familiar surroundings will help invigorate Magunda, whose father-in-law is a New Windmill regular.

“The big selling point for him was that it was local and he’s made a few sacrifices to join us,” said Holleran.

“He needs to be in an environment where he feels comfortable and where he can kick-start his career.

“It wasn’t long ago that he was captain of the England under-17s and we feel he has the right temperament to go on again.”

Magunda joins Jimmy Deabill, Lewis Powell and Dean Perrow as Leamington’s close-season signings and Holleran admits their arrivals could lead to one or two of last season’s squad heading for the exit door.

“There’s still work to be done and one or two decisions need to be made.

“Ideally we’d be looking to keep all of the squad but we need to balance the books.”

Brakes return to training on Tuesday evening, with their first pre-season fixture coming the following Tuesday at Sutton Coldfield Town.

 Leamington’s new home strip will be on sale in the club shop during the friendly against Mansfield Town on Saturday July 14.