SHAY McCartan is a ready-made replacement for exiting forward Josh Windass, according to Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman.

The former Burnley youngster has impressed in the Rangers-bound star’s absence through injury - netting three in the last two games.

He will look to add to his scoring streak at home to Bristol Rovers tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

And Coleman is confident of the Irishman’s long-term prospects, believing there is more to come from the 21-year-old.

“He’s one of the best in the league at running with the ball and running at defenders, and the system that we play we need a player like that,” said the Reds boss, who has started negotiations with McCartan about extending his Stanley stay.

“I think long-term, for his own career, he can play at a higher level because he gives you that turn of pace and good control.

“The fact that he has played Gaelic football should lend to him being better in the air than what he has shown, and I know he is, but the more confident he gets the more we will see more of that.

“He had an unbelievable spell last year and then tailed off.

“When you’re in and out of the side the minute you stop scoring goals when you’re bubbly it can go one of two ways.

“I think Shay got a little bit bogged down in thinking too much about the game.

“I spoke to him about it and he’s taken it on board. This season he’s waited for his chance and he’s grabbed it with both hands - three goals in two games and it should have been four.”

McCartan was at the double in last week’s win over Hartlepool United, as Stanley ended a two-month spell without a home game in style.

He went on to score the opener at Exeter City and was unlucky to be denied by the woodwork in a 2-1 defeat.

Coleman added: “He will always be a threat if you give him the ball.

“Sometimes he gets his down down and runs too much with the ball and doesn’t see a pass, but I’d sooner have that than him not running with the ball and passing every time he gets it and now hurting the opposition."

And Coleman said McCartan had done enough to force his way into the first team regardless of Windass’s groin injury, which the top scorer is struggling to shake off.

“With what he has done in training in the last month it was going to be virtually impossible to keep him out of the team,” he said.

“It made it a little bit easier for me because Josh got injury and he took that position because he can play that position.

“But I would have had to get him in the team eventually because he was doing that well in training.

“It’s not a case of him just coming in because someone’s injured. He’s been pushing for a place for the last month to be honest."