7:20am Thursday 2nd October 2008
By Andy Naylor
Colin Hawkins predicted today that fellow Irishman Kevin Thornton is about to become a big hit with Albion fans.
Thornton is poised for his first home appearance against Cheltenham on Saturday after an eyecatching debut on loan from Coventry.
The creative midfielder, introduced as a second half substitute, hit the bar from a free-kick and set up Glenn Murray’s second goal in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Northampton.
Hawkins, a former Coventry team-mate, believes the Withdean faithful have a lot to look forward to.
The centre half, just back from hernia surgery, said: “I heard maybe last month that the manager (Micky Adams) was looking at him, so I’m delighted he has come down. We’ll all benefit from him. He is a super player on the ball.
“He is a bit of a character as well. He just needs an arm around the shoulder sometimes to help him out.
“The manager has worked with him before, so he knows what he’s like. Kevin is a great lad, a bubbly character. He is good in the dressing room and I think he is going to do good things for us.
“I played quite a few games with him at Coventry and he has got all the talent in the world.
“He came up to me yesterday and said he has really enjoyed the first few days. He has just been at Coventry for so long that I think he needed to get away and have a freash break for a month or two.
“The fans are definitely going to take to him. I know at the Ricoh he had people on the edge of their seats. They loved him up there.
“He just hasn’t had a run of games, so hopefully we will get the best of him down here.”
Adams’ predecessor, Dean Wilkins, is scouting for Fulham while considering a couple of job offers abroad.
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