JOHN Coleman says Kayden Jackson has returned for duty ‘a miles better player’ and believes it would take a bid of around a million pounds to prise the striker away from the Wham Stadium.

Jackson scored twice as Stanley got the pre-season campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Premier League side Huddersfield.

While it was an fine all-round team display, it was Jackson who caught the eye - much to the delight of his manager.

“Kayden, since he has come back for pre-season seems to have worked hard himself before he has come back but he has gone up a notch or maybe two notches,” said Coleman.

“He looks a different player from last season and he was very, very good last season but he seems to have got quicker and physically stronger and his touch seems to have improved.

“So he looks all-round a miles better player even from last season which bodes well for the future.”

Jackson has been linked with moves away from the club during the summer but Coleman says it was take a big offer to tempt him away from Stanley.

He said: “If nobody comes in for him, nobody comes in for him but if somebody does come in for him and they see what he has done today, the price tag has to become realistic and all of a sudden now, a million pounds is a realistic price for what people are paying for strikers at the top end of the Championship and the Premiership.

“We have got a very special talent on our hands there and we hope to keep him.”

Coleman was pleased with the performance against the Terriers but said he will not get carried away despite beating a Premier League side.

“I’m pleased with the win, obviously, you are pleased with any win,” he said. “When we were speaking to the lads before the game, and I know people don’t take a lot out of pre-season games, but we always believe that you have to try and win at everything you play at and you have to keep the momentum of winning games.

“We won’t get carried away. It would be easy to get carried away by saying you have beaten a Premier League side but it is a big step in our fitness and I thought we showed some good football.

“We showed some good patterns of play, a lot of energy and good fitness levels which could stand us in good stead.”