JOHN Coleman is expecting big things in front of goal from Shay McCartan next season, after hailing the Accrington Stanley striker as “the most natural finisher at the club”.

The 22-year-old had to play second fiddle to Josh Windass and Billy Kee, who scored 15 and 17 goals respectively, last season, as the Reds went within a whisker of promotion to League One.

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But with Windass leaving for Rangers, the opportunity is there for McCartan to make his mark at the Wham Stadium.

The former Burnley trainee has made 76 appearances and scored 14 goals for the club since arriving on a free transfer from Turf Moor in 2013.

Coleman said: “It’s a big year for Shay. If you’re talking about natural finishers, probably Shay is the most natural finisher at the club.

“So if he gets a run of games and can grab that opportunity with both hands, who knows what we’ll find from him?”

Coleman admitted losing Windass, who scored on his debut for the Glasgow giants in a friendly against US side Charleston Battery last week, was a blow. But it is a situation he has faced before at Stanley.

“Somebody else will have to take the penalties,” he said. “That’s a blow because you never ever felt Josh would miss.

“But we’ve replaced top players in the past.

“People used to say when we let Gary Roberts go and Ian Craney go: ‘How are we going to replace them?’ “But we did replace them and this club will be going long after I’m gone.

“It gives somebody else an opportunity to step up to the plate.

“Terry Gornell didn’t get a lot of game time. He’s just signed, which I’m delighted about.

“Billy Kee eased off towards the end of the season with his goals. I know he’s chomping at the bit to get to scoring.

“So people will get their opportunities.”

The chance to shine will come in other areas too, with the manager admitting the departure of winger Piero Mingoia to Cambridge United has left him short of wide options.

But he is backing some of the youngsters on the fringe of the first team to rise to the challenge.

He said: “We possibly need a wide player with Piero going; we’re not overly blessed in that department.

“But this is a big opportunity for Brayden Shaw to emerge. We signed him last season, so he’s done a year with us here.

“He’s a young lad and he’s got the physique to be able to compete at this level.

“We’ve also got the two young lads who are first-year pros.

“Young Ross Sykes – a tall, elegant centre-half who I think is an outstanding prospect – and young Nathan Webb, who was magnificent for the youth team last year and came up with numerous goals for them.

“If he can translate youth football into senior football, he could also be an exciting prospect.”