Stoke City star James McClean plays key role in bringing ex-Potters U23 skipper Jake Dunwoody to Derry City

Potters winger, McClean instigated contact between the former Stoke City U23 skipper and his hometown club and sparked Dunwoody's interest in joining the Brandywell outfit.

City boss, Declan Devine and Technical Director, Paddy McCourt liked what they saw and quickly got to work in securing his signature ahead of the resumption of the League of Ireland season this Friday.

Versatile Northern Ireland U21 international, Dunwoody is delighted to have heeded McClean's advice after sealing his move until the end of the campaign and believes Derry City is the perfect place to launch his career.

"James messaged me and asked if I was interested in coming to Derry," said Dunwoody. "He told me it's a good league to play in and they're playing European football so that definitely drew my attention straight away.

"He passed my number over and I got talking to the manager and Paddy (McCourt) and we took it from there.

"James told me it was competitive and said I would be surprised how quick it is. He said you get less time on the ball and there's pressure. He said it's a physical league but said I would cope with it."

Dunwoody (21) who hails from Glossop just outside Manchester was on the books at Man City's Academy from the age of six until he was 16 years-old. He then went from the Etihad to Stoke City and spent loan spells at non-league Leek Town and Curzon Ashton where he developed his game.

With that experience behind him, he's now eager to impress and prove himself in the League of Ireland.

And while he believes regular first team football will ultimately enhance his chances of progressing to the Northern Ireland senior set-up, he's determined to showcase his talent and fulfil his undoubted potential with the Candy Stripes.

"Obviously I've not been playing football for a while because I had been furloughed at Stoke so hopefully I can hit the ground running now and work hard to get into the team, impress and show what I'm capable of.

"I just want to get as many first team games as possible and start building my profile."

He admits he was disappointed when Michael O'Neill deemed him surplus to requirements at Stoke, where he spent the past five years, despite being on the fringes of the first team set-up in recent months.

"Football is football," he said. "When I found out Michael was coming into Stoke, not only me but a lot of people thought it was my time to break through because I was always on the fringes of the first team anyway.

"Obviously that never happened but I'm not going to dwell on that. That's happened, it's in the past and I'm here now and looking to prove myself."

Initially he's signed a short term deal with Derry but he's hoping he will have done enough in the Candy Stripes shirt to reopen talks and potentially extend his contract come the season's end.

"We've spoken about and both the club and I agreed that come the end of the season depending on how well I've done we can discuss it then.

"So I have three or four months to prove myself to people and show people what I'm about and I can decide after what's the best thing for me."

Dunwoody, who describes himself as a box-to-box midfielder is prepared to play anywhere City boss Devine requires but he's simply looking forward to getting back on the pitch.

"I've always played midfield and I've always been a player who can fit into different positions. Sometimes that's a good thing. When you get comfortable in a position you want to stay there but I can move around. I like to get on the ball and make things happen.

"I like running in behind and getting into the box for crosses. I would say I'm more of a box-to-box midfielder but I can also do the defensive bit and put a tackle in when needed."

The Englishman qualifies for Northern Ireland through his grandad who was born in Belfast and he's hoping his international career will also benefit from his move to Brandywell.

"That's another big goal of mine to break into the senior Northern Ireland team," he admitted. "I need to start playing first team football at my age now. I need a good run of games and hopefully I can play most weeks and then it should set me in good stead.

"But definitely that's another reason why I came over here so he (Ian Barackough) can keep an eye on me too. So it's just down to me now to impress.

"I'll not look too far ahead just yet. I need to prove myself first and then we'll see what happens."

And his Northern Ireland U21 teammates, Nathan Gartside and Eoin Toal have certainly made it a lot easier for him to fit into his new surroundings since his arrival in the city today (Wednesday).

"That will help me settle in. I've got to meet all the lads today and they're all a good bunch and I've settled in well already."

Dunwoody will wear the No.14 shirt this season but whether or not he's ready to be thrown straight into action this Friday afternoon against Sligo Rovers remains to be seen given his lack of training in recent months.

"I'm hoping I will be okay for Friday," he said. "Obviously I won't be as fit as the rest of the guys as they've been back a lot longer than me. I'll take it each game as it comes."