DEREK Adams wants Reece Staunton to stake his claim to become a future regular in City’s central defence.

The 20-year-old has featured in only two Papa John’s Trophy outings since Adams took the Valley Parade helm.

But Niall Canavan’s deadline-day departure for Barrow has opened up a potential place in the side – which Adams believes the highly-rated youngster should be fighting for.

Adams said: “We’ve got Paudie O’Connor and I want Reece Staunton now to push forward and be that player.

“There’s also (Matty) Foulds and (Liam) Ridehalgh who can play at left centre half but I’m hopeful for Reece because he’s got a great future ahead of him.

“I just need him now to be that person to stand up and say, ‘I’m going to be the left centre half at this football club in future years’.

“I need him to kick on in training and when he plays in a reserve game, to be the best player on the park.”

Staunton was recovering from a long-term hamstring injury when Adams arrived at the club last summer – and the new manager did not believe he was physically ready to play centre half.

But the City boss feels he has been toughened up by a second loan spell with Bradford (Park Avenue), which ended a month ago.

Adams has been planning to send out Staunton and Kian Scales again if there is a suitable non-league club.

But Canavan’s exit may have opened the door for the defender to make the breakthrough that many fans want to see.

City have always had high hopes for Staunton, who set a new club record as their youngest-ever player when he made his debut as a 15-year-old in November 2017.

He signed a long-term contract at the start of last season that ties him to Valley Parade for a further two years.

Adams made it clear that it was his call to sanction Canavan’s move to Barrow for an undisclosed fee in the closing hours of the transfer window.

“He got the opportunity to go to Barrow and I had to make a decision,” added Adams.

“He’s been given an 18-month contract which is great for him and his family. I wasn’t in a position to do that.

“It was my decision to let him go or not and that’s what I’ve done.

“We had things moving along and when it comes to the end of the window, you have to move quickly.

“The two we took in, Luke Hendrie and Nathan Delfouneso, were in the pipeline and we’re just fortunate we got them in the end.”

Yann Songo’o reverted to the centre of defence alongside O’Connor in Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Leyton Orient. Despite Elliot Watt’s late equaliser, City were unable to make up ground on the play-off places.

Adams admitted: "It's winning that gets you up this league. Draws can be good at times but it's wins that propel you really quickly into a better position and that's what we're trying to do."