As Fleetwood Town hover ominously above the drop zone in League One, new manager John Sheridan has issued a rallying cry to one Cod Army striker.

Speaking to Fleetwood Today, Sheridan told former Ilkeston striker Ashley Hunter to be more selfish in front of goal after the striker's 54th minute equaliser in the recent relegation clash with MK Dons.

"Ash Hunter’s goal was a quality goal. We build on it and move on. I like him as a player. When he has played against me he has been lively and bright and I thought he was our main threat on Saturday. He deserved his goal but he has created chances as well. I like my strikers scoring goals. I’m allowing him to play off the strikers, be selfish and hopefully we can get a few more.”

Hunter hasn't been prolific this season, his strike this weekend was only his second of 2018 and his seventh of the season. He initially signed as a 19-year old from Ilkeston in 2015, but has gone on to force his way into the first team picture.

He's quick and likes to get on the ball, at a relatively diminutive 5'10" he's never going to carry an aerial threat, but he certainly has goal in him. He's scored 26 in total for Fleetwood from 62 starts, although some have comes from his 76 appearances off the bench.

Fleetwood need goals to arrest their current slide, after a promising start to the season they've failed to win a match since January 13th and have tumbled to within a whisker of the bottom four. Whilst points keeps them out of the relegation spots for now, results from games in hand could see them facing a return to League Two at the end of the season.

The Verdict

Much pressure has been placed on the shoulders of young Hunter, especially after the deadline day sale of Devante Cole to Wigan. Cod Army fans will find it frustrating that whilst their former leading scorer isn't getting a look in with the Latics, Hunter is having survival hopes pinned on him. I think it will be a big ask for them to stay in League One, especially as relegation rivals Oldham have goals in them with Craig Davies and Eoin Doyle.