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

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."

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