Stockport County player can prove the silver lining of current injury woes: View | OneFootball

The striker has hit pre-season with purpose this summer

Stockport County's already substantial injury list will not please anybody inside Edgeley Park, but one silver lining has been Kyle Wootton's start to pre-season.

The battle for a spot up front for the Hatters is tough this season, with Wootton, Michael Mellon, Tanto Olaofe and Jack Stretton all vying for the gig, plus a number of others who are capable of taking on the role.

However, a string of injuries that hit all the club's headline strikers, apart from Wootton, has provided him the space to make an early mark on the new season.

His positive start could prove crucial to County amid multiple injury setbacks.

County's recent friendly against Stoke City at Edgeley Park saw Burnley loanee Michael Mellon take his first strides in the blue and white shirt, getting the nod from the start by manager Dave Challinor.

His fortunes changed just over 15 minutes after the referee's first whistle, however, when he began limping on the pitch. He tried to battle on but was forced off not long after.

It was clearly the intention to give Mellon at least the first half to get accustomed to his temporary new home for the season, but his early setback gave Wootton an extended opportunity in the game. As soon as Mellon went down, Wootton was off down the touchline warming up, sensing he might be required.

Wootton grabbed the opportunity with both hands

While no one - including Wootton - would have wanted to see the young striker forced off so early on his debut, Wootton took the chance to show the work he has been putting in during the summer break.

Against solid Championship-level opposition, the 27-year-old's hold-up play was noticeably polished and benefitted from having electric wide players on either side of him who often hugged the touchline.

His vocal input on the pitch was also useful, commanding players around him and telling them where they needed to be for the next move. With the average age of the squad lowered this term, and a club captain still to be decided after the departure of Paddy Madden, that could be a vital attribute.

Having come in much earlier than he would have expected, Wootton launched straight into action and looked back to the best version of himself after some tepid showings last term.

The former Notts County man topped off a strong performance with the game's only goal, nodding home a neatly delivered set piece from Jack Diamond; an early sign of how Wootton could flourish in Challinor's new system that deploys specialist wingers.

Tough competition means Wootton will know there's still plenty of work to do

Of course, the season is yet to get going and Wootton will know he still has plenty of work to do to nail down his starting place in this side.

That much was clear in the game against Stoke itself when the target man was subbed off towards the end of the game and Diamond moved more centrally.

A key recruitment factor for Challinor and director of football Simon Wilson has been employing wingers who are capable of playing anywhere across the front three, so Wootton is not only battling the trio of currently injured strikers, but also the likes of Diamond and Jayden Fevrier.