Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth was full of praise for Garath McCleary, as the latter scored a quick-fire brace in Wanderers’ 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley on the first day of the season.

The former Reading man, who is now in his second season with the Chairboys, scored his first after nine minutes with a cool finish from eight yards, before producing a beautiful chip over James Trafford for his second six minutes later.

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These were his first goals for the club at Adams Park, as his four strikes last season all came away from home.

Speaking after the game, Ainsworth said: “He’s been outstanding from the moment he walked in.

“We’ve had some real good chats, one-to-ones as we have a big respect for each other and I’ve asked him to deliver.

“I said ‘this is League One, I know you’ve played at the highest levels, but you can be a leader, a talisman for us’ and I thought he, Daryl Horgan and Vokes played really well.

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“They were great goals, he was unlucky to not get his hat-trick but I am sure it’ll come soon.

“He was tired.

“I know that feeling as I played into my 30s and I think he was relieved.

“He’s a real leader to this squad and sometimes he doesn’t realise it, so I have to tell him how much respect he gets off the other players due to the level he has played at.

“He’s very humble and probably doesn’t understand that.”

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McCleary’s goals mean that he has now already halved his tally from last season, as the ex-Forest man bagged four goals for the Chairboys in 2020/21.

The win also secured Wanderers’ first at home against Stanley since January 2009 – ending a run of nine matches at Adams Park without a victory against John Coleman’s men.

Up next for Wycombe is an away trip to Exeter City in the League Cup on August 10, before hitting the road again on August 14, as they travel to Cheltenham Town.