WHEN Daire Doyle joined Kiddermin-ster Harriers in January, the club's official website trumpeted his arrival by proudly announcing: "Molby snaps up Irish gem".

The Dublin-born midfielder, however, has taken time to settle in and it's only now that Harriers fans are beginning to realise the 20-year-old could well end up as a jewel in the side's crown.

A diamond performance in Saturday's 3-1 victory over rivals Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road made him man-of-the-match in many supporters' eyes, and was involved in creating two of Kidderminster's goals.

His developing talents, however, are no surprise to manager Jan Molby who snapped up the youngster on a free transfer from Coventry City following a successful trial period at Aggborough earlier in the season.

Doyle admits it's been a testing start to his Kidderminster career which has so far involved 13 appearances in Harriers starting line-up.

He said: "I've done well in some of them and some I wouldn't say I have. I didn't play too many games at Coventry because I wasn't in favour with Gordon Strachan at the time.

"But I believe there is definitely a lot more to come from me and the spirit is in the club is great. I'm really enjoying myself here. I get on well with the lads and there's a good gaffer here and everything hopefully will go well for me."

Doyle, who joined Coventry from Irish side Cherry Orchard, also believes there is a lot more to come from the current squad.

"If we continue to do what we are doing now there's no reason why we can't reach the play-offs next season. We are working hard and doing the basic things.

"Sometimes we weren't clearing our lines and getting into the corners which I'm doing now. In the first 15 minutes of matches we haven't been giving away silly goals.

"When I came here we were playing great football and were doing really well, but we were easy for teams to pick off. Sides got their goals and we did come back the odd time to get a draw, but we always seemed to go behind."

Molby said of Doyle: "Because we signed him from Coventry people thought here we go. But he's only 20 and he hardly played for Coventry Reserves. He played for the Under 19s Academy and to come and play in the Third Division is different.

"We always knew he was going to be a good player and he's going to get much better."

Kidderminster, meanwhile, have arranged eight pre-season friendlies as part of their preparations for next term.

West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City and Bristol City are included in the list.

Harriers players will report back on Monday, July 9, with the first friendly taking place five days later.

The full programme is: Saturday, July 14 v Bromsgrove Rovers (away); Monday, July 16 v Halesowen Harriers (away); Wednesday, July 18 v Evesham United (away); Saturday, July 21 v Redditch United (away); Tuesday, July 24 v Bristol City (home); Saturday, July 28 v West Bromwich Albion (home); Tuesday, July 31 v Birmingham City (home); Monday, August 6 v Halesowen Town (home).

Molby said: "Everybody looks on pre-season matches differently. When I was Ajax we played 15 or 16 pre-season friendlies and before the best season we ever had at Liverpool we played 13.

"It's difficult to say which is the right or wrong way to do it. Last year we played nine, but I'm quite happy with the eight we have got. They are excellent games.

"We are going to play the first four straight after we report back. We'll play one side in the first half of each game and another in the second just to get people back to playing and then we'll take it from there."