Adams backs Stockton to recapture scoring form

The Morecambe manager is backing Cole Stockton to recapture his scoring form of last season, to help the Shrimps climb off the foot of the League One table.

The 28-year-old, who scored 26 times in all competitions last season, is yet to find the net this campaign in ten appearances.

Stockton’s season has been blighted with illness, injury, and uncertainty over his future at the Mazuma Stadium towards the end of the transfer window.

Ahead of a crucial League One encounter at Burton Albion on Saturday, Derek Adams says it’s time for him to show him his best form.

There’s full commentary of the match at the Pirelli Stadium on Shrimps Live, on Saturday from 2:45pm on our FM and DAB+ services.

‘’All of the teams in this division, apart from Forest Green, have spent more than a season in League One. That shows you the gulf we have to bridge,’’ said Adams.

‘’We understand that, and know what their capabilities are on and off the pitch.

‘’We need to be finishing teams off when we get the opportunity. We have to get Cole off the mark, he was the second highest scorer in the division last season. These are the areas we need to improve on.’’

At the same point last season, Stockton had scored 11 times. The manager recognises that that is an issue.

‘’We need our strikers to be scoring goals,’’ Adams added.

‘’Kieran Phillips is doing that at the moment, we also need Cole to chip in, and are looking for that to happen.

‘’He was disappointed that a transfer in the summer hasn’t gone through, but the Club didn’t accept an offer that was very low, when other players were going for vastly improved terms. He’s got to get his head down now and score to put himself back in the shop window.

‘’It’s (been) very difficult, but he’s through that now and he’s sorted out. He’s in the team and looking to score goals, and if he does that, it gives him a better opportunity of moving either in January or next summer.’’

The Shrimps head into Saturday’s game bottom of the League One table, with just one victory in the league so far from 12 games.

Burton Albion sit just one point and one place above Morecambe, but have played a game more.