Stockport County capitalising on Sunderland call looks set to turn defender’s fortunes around - View | OneFootball

The full-back looked revitalised in his link up with the Hatters' new winger

Ibby Touray struggled at times last season for Stockport County, but the early signs for the full-back in pre-season look positive.

The Hatters signed Touray last summer from Salford City on a free transfer. It was a strong step from County at the time, considering that the two had faced each other in a play-off semi-final just months earlier.

His first season at Edgeley Park received mixed reviews, but he spent the majority of the campaign playing in unfamiliar roles that manager Dave Challinor felt he was suited for.

However, in County's pre-season game against Derby County in Spain, Touray returned to a more traditional full-back role, with new signing Jack Diamond ahead of him. He finally looked to be showing signs of the player everyone saw at Salford.

It was a tough season for Touray last year

The 29-year-old had a turbulent introduction to his Edgeley Park life.

A mixture of injuries and Challinor's tactical choices saw the Gambia international asked to play in unfamiliar roles; left of a back three, left wing-back, but rarely in his favoured traditional left-back role.

Touray looked uncomfortable in these positions at times, and his performance levels seemed to knock his confidence for chunks of the season. He received harsh - and sometimes unwarranted - criticism at times, which further impacted his confidence and set off a downward spiral that looked difficult to stop.

Challinor was transparent in his own role in the situation. Following County's away fixture at Salford last season, the manager told club media: “If you ask any League Two manager over the past, I don’t know, four years, who one of the most consistent, best left-backs in the division has been, his name would be right up at the top of that list. He’s had a tough transition and, again, some of that [is] my doing because I’ve asked him to play in an unfamiliar position.”

There was enough to suggest he can turn things around

Challinor continued to back Touray throughout the season, especially through some of the player's toughest showings. Even after a relatively difficult season, the left-back showed there was plenty of talent to unlock.

Despite the challenges he faced, he managed to come out on top of County's assist chart in League Two last season, showing his potential to be a creative force at Edgeley Park.

Some defensive questions may remain, but if he can produce that in a tough season, imagining what he might be capable of when in form is an exciting prospect.

Relationship with new signing showing positive early signs

County fans out in Spain for the club's pre-season friendly against Derby got the first taste of what a fully firing Touray might look like, aided by one of the new faces to walk through the door this summer.

Touray played down the left with former Sunderland man Jack Diamond ahead of him, and the pair already look to have a strong understanding of each other.

The left-back was constantly overlapping and underlapping his teammate, providing plenty of options when Diamond was on the ball and also opening up space for the winger to run into.

At times last season, Touray looked to struggle to progress the ball when he looked up and there was no constant presence down the line for him to bounce off. His combinations with Diamond made clear what the missing element was, with Touray looking assured as he bombed down the flank and the pair catching out their adversaries on multiple occasions.

It made for happy viewing to see the former Salford man back to his best, as someone who clearly thrives on confidence. County fans will hope this is just the beginning of a productive relationship. It looks to be exactly what was missing from his game last term.

With just Ryan Rydel and Touray currently the only candidates for the role, as Ethan Pye is occupied in the centre of defence, whether Challinor could get the best out of Touray was still a looming question. With the signing of Diamond, it looks like he could have found the answer.