Monday 6 October 2014 12:55, UK
Accrington boss John Coleman admits getting top scorer James Gray available again will be like a new signing for his in-form side.
Stanley have a 100 per cent record since Coleman returned to manage the club last month and that trio of victories has come without leading marksman Gray. The Northern Irishman, who has struck five times in nine games, has had to serve a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Oxford, but will return for Dagenham's visit on Saturday. "It will be like getting a new signing when we get James back," Coleman said "He's been in a rich goalscoring vein and when you're like that as a forward you hate having to miss out. "I know he'll be raring to go, I've put him on a special programme and he's been working on that to get his match fitness up. "He's really buying into that and he's enjoying it." Gray was called up to the Northern Ireland squad over the summer and the 22-year-old is forging a reputation for himself in a prolific start to the season. Asked how far he believes the young striker can go, Coleman replied: "It'll be down to himself. "The big thing is if he's scoring goals, he will catch everyone's eye." Stanley have certainly not appeared to miss their leading marksman, though. They scored five in Coleman's first match in charge at Northampton - with new signings John O'Sullivan and Sean Maguire scoring three between them - and have netted in the two games since, meaning they have found the target in each of their previous nine fixtures. "We've got some good players there," Coleman pointed out. "The lads we've brought in have made some valuable contributions and hopefully we'll move forward on that again."
