Wingers who could do job for Mariners
WIDE REINFORCEMENTS NEEDED
IT is expected to be a busy summer window for Grimsby Town, and one area they will be looking to reinforce quickly is the wide positions. Having let go of the likes of Erico Sousa and Max Wright recently, boss Paul Hurst will be looking for Football Leagueready upgrades in those positions.
If Grimsby can bring in the right players to supplement the talents of John McAtee and Ryan Taylor in forward positions, they will be in a solid position to return to the fourth tier.
One weakness of the Town team last season was the lack of goals and overall attacking contributions from the attacking players outside the already mentioned stars.
These picks for wide midfielders would add that quality needed to create and score goals for Hurst, who likes his wingers to be attack-minded in his favoured 4-2-3-1 set-up at Grimsby.
Ryan Colclough
Having worked with him while at Scunthorpe United, Colclough is a player that Hurst will know.
He hit double figures for Altrincham in the National League last season and has vast experience in the EFL with Scunthorpe, Wigan Athletic and Crewe Alexandra.
A confident dribbler who is able to shift the ball at speed and with accuracy, he can be a real threat when allowed to express himself in the final third, which he will be allowed to do as Sousa was, but will need to show more end product than the Portuguese player. He is still under contract at Altrincham, so a fee will be required to pry him away, but he should be willing and able to make the step back up to the EFL.
Joe Sbarra
The Solihull Moors player impressed in his appearances against the Mariners last season and, at 23, has excellent potential for the future.
With 18 goals last season in the National
League, he has already shown the lethal streak Hurst will be searching for this summer for forward additions.
His small, slight frame and low centre of gravity mean Sbarra is difficult to dispossess without fouling and showed how effective his pace is in transition in Neal Ardley’s counter-attacking Solihull side last season.
He also showed his versatility throughout last season, playing on both wings and behind the striker, demonstrating his proficiency with both feet and ability to adapt to different roles within the team quickly.
Solihull have triggered a one-year extension within his contract, so he will not be able to come to Blundell Park without a fee, but for a player of his quality and potential and would be worth the plunge.
Ashley Hunter
An experienced EFL winger with Salford City and Fleetwood, Hunter, would bring significant experience to the team.
He made 33 league appearances for the Ammies last season and provided eight assists, so it was a surprise to some to see him released by Salford.
Hunter would give some much-needed width to the team to create space for the likes of McAtee in the area behind the striker and, as a proficient crosser of the ball, could provide the service from the byline that Taylor sometimes lacked to score more goals.
He can play behind the opposition back four with his pace and trickery, with a good eye for a goal. As a confident ball-carrier, he would be ideal for getting the Mariners high up the pitch and providing an outlet in the final third.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
The 25-year-old had another solid season for Torquay United after winning their Player of the Year award for the 2020-21 season when the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Football League.
Lemonheigh-Evans predominantly played in a central attacking midfielder role last season but can also play on the righthand side of the midfield, and that is where he would be best deployed in Hurst’s team.
The Welshman popped up with 11 goals from midfield last campaign after hitting double figures the season before, so he has the finishing touch to support the goalscoring effort when needed. He has been offered a new deal at Plainmoor; however, he is unlikely to resign with plenty of suitors from the Football League battling for his signature. He is a versatile player entering his prime years that could quickly slot into the team; the 25-year-old could be an excellent pick-up.