Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Meet the League One striker outscoring the likes of Haaland and Salah

mirror.co.uk, 29 September 2021, 14:51

Cole Stockton is enjoying a simply superb start to the season.

It's safe to say not much was expected of the centre-forward or his team, Morecambe, this term.

After all, the Shrimps are embarking on their first-ever tilt in the third division after winning the League Two play-off final last season. Their task to compete looked difficult enough before a ball was even kicked when manager Derek Adams and star player Carlos Mendes Gomes both left in pre-season.

As for Stockton, his most prolific spell as a third tier player was early on in his career when he found the net three times over the course of a season with Tranmere Rovers.

He has mostly been a fourth tier player but he's now getting his chance to shine - and he's certainly grasping it with both hands.

Morecambe's Cole Stockton has been in superb scoring form

This season the 27-year-old has been in prolific form. He has a whopping nine goals in League One already, making him top scorer in England (alongside Blackburn's Ben Brereton).

And his 11 goals in 12 games across all competitions has him ahead in the scoring charts of some of the most prolific strikers in Europe.

Liverpool's Mo Salah has eight goals in all comps, whilst serial goal-getter Harry Kane has just three goals in what has been a below-par season so far.

Across the continent Stockton also has a march on some of the biggest names in Europe.

Stockton is outscoring some of Europe's biggest names at present, including Erling Haaland of Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland has just seven so far - the same as Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.

Last night saw Stockton add another to his tally with a long-range effort to open the scoring in Morecambe's 2-0 win over Lincoln City.

Scott Wootton added a second in what was another benchmark win for Stephen Robinson's side. Lincoln, after all, were within one game of the Championship last term and Morecambe's latest victory up to 11th and within three points of the play-offs.

Morecambe are excelling in their first-ever season in League One

Stockton's goals have been key to that remarkable adaption to life in League One. Tangible evidence of that was shown when he he was named divisional player player of the month for August.

Speaking after being handed that gong, Stockton gave an insight into what is motivating his scintillating form this term.

He said: "I couldn't tell you why things have gone so well so far. I think it's just keeping that belief within myself, more than anything, and always believing in my own ability.

"That's the big thing with any striker - as soon as you get the first goal of the season, that's off your shoulder and then you feel confident in front of goal. We get judged on goals - I will miss chances, but it's about putting the other ones away.

"After we got promoted, I saw stuff online where people were saying I'd never be able to play in League One and that I'd be back in League Two.

"When people say that, it just keeps me hungrier to prove things to myself more than anyone else."

Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip

Top News

15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland survived a late Hungary scare to triumph 3-1 in their opening Euro 2024 Group A contest in Cologne. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina has confirmed that Brighton & Hove Albion defender Valentin Barco is one of three players omitted from Lionel Scaloni's final Copa America squad. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have apparently taken the first step towards their maiden summer signing by making contact with Premier League rivals Everton over a deal for a £50m-rated midfielder. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are eyeing a move for highly-rated Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams in this summer's transfer window, according to a report. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Slovakia on Monday, with the Red Devils bidding to make the perfect start to their Euro 2024 campaign. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovakia's squad for Euro 2024 is headlined by Milan Skriniar, and the Paris Saint-Germain defender is in line to win his 69th cap for his national side in their campaign opener against Belgium. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France manager Didier Deschamps is reportedly considering making a U-turn on a key Euro 2024 selection decision involving Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium and Slovakia will get their respective Euro 2024 Group E campaigns underway on Monday evening with an intriguing match-up at the Frankfurt Arena. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany trio Julian Nagelsmann, Ilkay Gundogan and Niclas Fullkrug all hailed Die Mannschaft's exceptional performance after the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off their bid for glory with a record-breaking 5-1 crushing of Scotland in Group A. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane tore Andrew Robertson apart after Scotland began their Euro 2024 campaign with an embarrassing 5-1 loss at the hands of hosts Germany. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with the representatives of AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori to discuss a possible move to St James' Park during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54 following a short illness. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have apparently taken the first step towards bolstering their ranks for the 2024-25 season, as a report from the Liverpool Echo claims that contact has been made over a move for Everton's Amadou Onana. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Steve Clarke expects his Scotland side to show that they are "better than that" after losing 5-1 to Germany on Friday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Back at a major tournament after eight years of waiting, Romania get their Euro 2024 campaign under way on Monday afternoon, when they meet Ukraine in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Quarter-finalists three years ago, Ukraine kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday afternoon, when they meet Group E rivals Romania in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the waiting finally over, Group E rivals Romania and Ukraine will kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns on Monday afternoon in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Championship outfit Millwall have announced the tragic death of goalkeeper Matija Sarkic at the age of just 26. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France attacker Kylian Mbappe has seemingly emerged unscathed from an injury scare as Les Bleus prepare to tackle Austria in their Euro 2024 Group D opener in Dusseldorf on Monday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick must work around the absence of three serious knee victims for Das Team's Euro 2024 run, which begins on Monday against France in Group D. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf is the venue for Monday's closing Euro 2024 contest, as in-form Austria and title favourites France pit their wits against one another in Group D. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany began their quest to win an unprecedented fourth continental title in emphatic fashion as they put Scotland to the sword 5-1 in Friday's Euro 2024 opener at the Allianz Arena. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman has played down suggestions that he could make the move to Real Madrid during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has reportedly agreed personal terms with Juventus ahead of a potential move to the Italian giants during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Potential replacements for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United were allegedly 'surprised' by the low wages that were offered and also the club's transfer budget this summer. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dan Friedkin, the owner of Serie A giants Roma, has reportedly agreed a deal with Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri to buy the Premier League club. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chadi Riad is relishing the opportunity to face the Premier League's most formidable opponents after becoming Crystal Palace's first signing of the summer transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In football terms, a Group of Death refers to a group of teams in a competition that are similarly matched in terms of quality, and so it is hard to predict who will qualify from them. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk While the 24 squads are finalising their preparations for this summer's tournament in Germany, so too are the referees at Euro 2024.