FIACRE Kelleher reckons Mark Hughes can be a magnet for attracting new talent to Valley Parade.

City play their penultimate game of the season at Sutton tomorrow but Hughes is already stepping up his plans for a hectic summer.

Player talks are taking place and the club’s new head of recruitment will be publicly unveiled at the start of next week.

Hughes is keen to freshen up an under-achieving squad with new faces – and Kelleher insists targets should be falling over themselves to play for him.

He said: “You’re just not going to get the chance to work with a manager like that at this level.

“He just knows the game really well and he’s obviously worked at the very top.

“If I was looking at it as a player with the chance to come here and work under him, I’d be chomping at the bit. You’re going to get the best there is.”

Kelleher is not among the 12 current players coming out of contract and is keen to stake his claim with Hughes having been given a late opportunity.

“I can’t really comment on anybody else’s situation,” he added. “But all I can say is that if I was in their shoes, I’d be trying my best here.

“I know next year you’re going to have one of the best managers to work under.

“I was a little bit gobsmacked when he came in. You just don’t see it at this level that someone like that would drop down to have this kind of journey.

“If it doesn’t work out for him, I’m sure there are consequences for his reputation as well. But he’s obviously looking at it as a new adventure and wants to give it a go.

“The football’s completely different to anything he will have dealt with at Premier League level.

“He’s been good enough to give me a chance and I don’t think I’ve done too badly in the last two games.

“I’m just looking at the more game-time I get, the more I’m going to get in a routine of playing better and showing him what I am capable of.”

The lanky centre half is the only City player to have appeared at Gander Green Lane before – but admits that will not be much use.

“It used to be on Astroturf when I played so I’m not sure what it’s like now!

“But we can go there full of confidence coming off the back of a win. We played really well and created lots of opportunities.

“Our attacking players, Charles (Vernam), Lee (Angol) and Dion (Pereira), are all in a rich vein of form, so I think we can take the game to them.”

Seventh-placed Sutton are unbeaten in 19 home games – the longest run in the entire league – as they chase a play-off spot. Kelleher is pleased to have so much resting on the occasion.

“You don’t want a game where you’re not playing for anything. This will mean a lot to them, so we want to go there and show people we’re still a good team and take that momentum into next season.”

Paudie O'Connor is available again after his one-match ban but Kelleher could keep his place in the back four.