NEW Stanley loan striker Ryan Cassidy has described himself as an ‘Alan Shearer goal poacher’ and is looking to hit the target for the Reds.

The highly-rated 19-year-old joined Stanley on Friday from Watford where he has been on the goal trail with the club’s Under-23s side.

The Irish teenager as recently signed a new two-year deal with the Hornets but has moved to the Wham Stadium on a season long loan.

Now Cassidy, who moved from his native Ireland to England when he was 16-years-old, will be looking to replicate what his fellow striker did down the road at Blackburn Rovers.

“I am a poacher, an Alan Shearer,” he told the club website. “I am quite strong for the size I am and I like to hold up the ball and roughen up the defenders.”

“I have been playing Under 23s since before I moved to England, luckily I was doing so well which is why I was pushed up.

“My best year was the FA Youth Cup last year where Watford got to the semi-finals against Liverpool and I think I scored eight goals in four or five games.”

Cassidy, capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under-19s level last season, admitted the time was right for him to go out on loan – Stanley is his first time away from Watford.

Now he he excited to be playing ‘men’s football’ and thanked Stanley boss John Coleman for making it happen.

“This year was the year I had to step up and get out of my comfort zone and luckily Accrington accepted me,” he said.

“Over the summer, me and my agent sat down and said I needed to go on loan so we were looking and thankfully John (Coleman) and Jimmy (Bell) came in for me.

“I am so excited to play in front of the fans when we can and to play men’s football is a challenge for me but one I am looking forward to.

“I have been welcomed from the minute I came in, they are all lovely people, all the players are a nice group and it looks great.”

Cassidy is Stanley’s second signing of the summer after bringing in central defender Cameron Burgess on a free transfer.

Coleman has stated their good be more signings to come and Stanley have been linked with a move for Celtic goalkeeper Connor Hazard.

The Reds are on the hunt for a new No.1 after Dimi Evtimov was released at the end of his contract, and Joe Bursik returned to Stoke City following his loan spell.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman is yet to play for Celtic’s first-team, but has had spells with Falkirk, Patrick Thistle and Dundee.

Should Hazard make the switch to the Wham Stadium it will be more than likely be a loan, with Coleman having stated that Burgess is likely to be his sole permanent transfer of the summer.