Colin Reid is tipping Dwight Gayle as one for the future after plundering goals for fun in the Blue Square Premier North Division.
Dagenham youngster impressing in Conference North
Bishop Stortford's assistant manager Colin Reid is tipping Dwight Gayle as one for the future after plundering goals for fun in the Blue Square Premier North Division.
The 21-year-old striker is currently on a season-long loan from Dagenham & Redbridge and he is the division's third-highest scorer with an impressive 26 league goals.
The club are banking on Gayle to fire the Hertfordshire side to safety and Reid sees no reason why he cannot emulate the likes of Steve Morison by playing top-flight football.
Norwich's striker played for Stortford and Stevenage in non-league football before joining the Canaries via Millwall and Reid has likened Gayle to the likes of Simeon Jackson and Andy Johnson due to his size and goalscoring ability.
Instrumental
"Dwight's been very instrumental," Reid told
Sky Sports. "I think he's scored nearly 30 goals. To do that with a side positioned where we are is a great credit to him.
"I think he's one for the future. He's scored most of his goals playing out wide. He hasn't played down the middle. He comes in off the touchline and he's got a good future ahead of him.
"He's composed on the ball. He's got an eye for goal and I've seen players of lesser ability go on and perform at a lot higher a level. He's got a level head on young shoulders. He can make a difference.
"I've had players at that level like Steve Morison, who has gone to play in the Premier League. He's not the same sort of player as him. I'd compare him as a cross between Simeon Jackson and Andy Johnson in terms of his stature, in that he's not the biggest, and his finishing ability.
"He's an intelligent lad. I've seen a lot of players of lesser ability go on, so hopefully he'll get the chance to perform. I think he'll do better higher up."
Challenging
Reid and manager Rod Stringer have guided Stortford out of the drop zone in the Blue Square North and he believes they will put together a side that will challenge next season if they stay on.
"I've spent most of my time working with young academy players," Reid continued. "I've been Head of Youth and Reserve Team Manager at places like Stevenage, West Ham and Charlton, so I've done a variety of positions.
"So I've had a background of coaching education, player development and this one is front line and when I say front line I say results-orientated.
"It's been a good challenge. I'm sure at the end of the season there will be various opportunities and if it's Bishops Stortford or wherever we go, because we still don't know what division we'll be in, then we're open to offers.
"If we stay at Stortford I'm sure we'd put a good side together, whether it's in the North or South, and we'd be challenging.
"I feel we've come in and instilled a bit of confidence. The players have bought in to what we're trying to achieve, we're a lot more organised. Full credit to the lads for applying the things we're trying to implement."
