Stanley are continuing to learn about their crop of loan players every day, according to Jimmy Bell.

Jerome Opoku has been the pick of the temporary additions, with the left-sided defender having impressed since joining from Fulham.

The 21-year-old, along with West Ham loanee Aji Alese, will return to the fold after injury for the trip to Tranmere and look to win back his place having not played in either of the last two matches.

A central defender by trade, Opoku has made 12 appearances at left back in what has been a problem position for Stanley in recent seasons, who also brought in Zain Francis-Angol, who is currently injured, and Joe Maguire, who has been filling in of late, during the summer.

On the progress of Opoku, Bell said: “Very surprised. It’s been a problem position for us left back for a couple of years now.

“We brought a couple in, Zain and Joe, who have both had injuries and the situation arose and we had to put him (Opoku) there, and he’s taken to it really well.

“Who’s to say he will get back in because Joe Maguire has been absolutely fantastic the last three or four weeks?”

Opoku is one of a number of Stanley loanees gaining their first experience of senior football at the club, which Bell admits is something of a gamble.

While Stanley have helped many players over the years progress their careers, Bell says that experience has to come to the benefit of the team.

“I’d say 90 per cent of the loans we do have are young players who are trying to come here for experience. We give them the opportunity,” he explained.

“It’s a good grounding for them to learn and go on to better things. A lot of players have who started their careers at Accrington.

“It’s down to them to take the shirt.

“A lot of the ones we’ve brought in haven’t played at a higher level, this is the highest level they’ve played.

“We give them a chance and an opportunity as we always have done with loan players and it’s up to them to take it.

“If they’re good enough then we’ll give them a chance, if they’re not then they don’t play.

“It’s about Accrington winning games, yes they have a progression in life and football, but it’s about us winning games.

“If they’re good enough, they will play, if not then they will have to learn the hard way.”