ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has compared his strike force to Liverpool’s prolific front pairing of Kevin Keegan and John Toshack in the 1970s.

Liverpudlian Coleman, an ardent Reds fan, has been delighted with the scoring return of Dion Charles and Colby Bishop who have scored 21 goals this season – and likened them to his boyhood idols.

The pair scored five goals between them in Tuesday’s 6-1 demolition of Bristol Rovers – Charles netted a first league hat-trick while Coleman labelled Bishop’s display as the “complete centre forward performance”.

“You have got to keep telling them how great they are,” said Coleman, a prolific goalscorer himself in his playing days. “Keegan and Toshack I have named them.

“They are reminiscent of them – good in the air, good on the floor, a bundle of energy and we have got to keep their confidence up.

“Scoring goals is like a drug and you want more of it and hopefully they will show they need it.

“I have been banging the drum that it’s ok wanting and liking things but if you need something you tend to get it more than like it or want it.”

There will be no resting on laurels for the front pairing though and with Coleman strengthening his attacking options during the window, he knows there will be pressure on them to deliver.

Paul Smyth has returned to Stanley on loan from Queens Park Rangers while Burnley youngster Adam Phillips, signed on deadline day along with David Morgan, is eligible for today’s home clash with Northampton Town – the second of three successive home games for the Reds.

Talking of the deadline-day arrivals, Coleman told the club website:“Both are very good footballers, attack-minded and can create and score goals.

“They will give us an extra boost if we are going to try and get a bigger number of goals from midfield. One of the things you can label at us is that we don’t score enough from midfield.

“We have a lot of games in a short space of time so it’s good to have players at your disposal.

“We don’t know what’s round the corner. I am sure three or four weeks ago Ben Barclay didn’t envisage playing in the back three.

“Things can change, it’s how you adapt to it and if people take their chances. People have to keep themselves in tip-top condition and I know, if I need to call on them, they will be ready.”

Michael Nottingham and Matt Butcher, who both went off injured in midweek, will undergo late fitness tests.