Torquay United manager Martin Ling has revealed that midfielder Eunan O’Kane played a key role in bringing new signing Nathan Craig to Plainmoor.

Ling said: “If Nathan turns out half as good as Eunan, we’ll all be delighted.”

Popular Ulsterman O’Kane, 21, and Welshman Craig, 20, were both in Everton’s Academy before they were released by the Goodison Park club, O’Kane in 2009 and Craig last summer.

O’Kane headed back to Northern Ireland to play for Coleraine, from where Torquay signed him. Craig, a left-footed midfielder, played for his home-town club Caernarfon Town before earning a Plainmoor trial, which Ling has just extended to a non-contract deal to the end of the season.

“Eunan was part of getting Nathan in here, and so in fairness was [ex-loanee] Billy Bodin, who has played with Nathan in the Wales Under-21 side,” said Ling. “They both said he could play.

“Nathan is a talent that somehow got lost in the summer market last year. After all, he was a regular in Everton’s reserves and played a first-team game in Europe for them a couple of years ago.

“I’ve seen bits of Nathan, in training and reserve games here, that I really like,” Ling added. “He’s got a few deficiencies, and he’s still got a lot of boxes to tick at the moment. But it’s up to him now to show that he can be a part of our squad for next season.”

United have the experienced Brian Saah ready to replace centre-back Chris Robertson in tomorrow’s npower League Two fixture at Rotherham United, with Ed Palmer, just back from a loan spell at Truro City, as back-up.

The departures of Robertson to Preston North End and on-loan striker Billy Bodin will prompt attempts to borrow a forward and a central defender next week. Ling said: “I’ve got a few fingers in a few pies. There were a couple of names chucked at me this week that excited me, and the answer will come next week.”