Burchnall backs ‘top player’ Kyle to hit goal trail
BOSS SAYS WOOTTON ONE OF BEST HE HAS WORKED WITH
IAN Burchnall is convinced Kyle Wootton will be back among the goals for Notts County and says the forward ranks alongside the best he has worked with.
The former Scunthorpe United striker, who is the club’s top scorer with 12 goals, has not found the net in 12 games in what has become a barren run for the towering front man.
Wootton missed gilt-edged chances in the 2-2 draw at Torquay United and in the 2-0 defeat to Eastleigh on Tuesday, which has led some fans to be critical of his finishing on social media.
But his stats prove he is comfortably the best centre forward at the club and head coach Burchnall has no doubt Wootton’s spell will end soon as he praised his all-round contribution to the team.
“He’s a top player,” said Notts’ head coach.
“I’ve worked with a lot of good centre-forwards over the years. And he is up there. He’s very good.
“And I’ve spoken to him and assured him that he contributes to the team in terms of his hold-up play and the fact he takes a lot of physical batterings off centre-backs.
“He is linking play and defensively his pressing is on point. So he’s contributing massively to the team, believe me.
“And he is consistently getting in a position to finish. He’s missed a couple but he’s not afraid and he’s there again in the right position.
“We all believe in him and the goals will come for him, I’ve no doubt about it.”
Notts will hope Wootton can end what has been a frustrating spell in front of goal when they travel to face Altrincham in the National League tomorrow (3pm) as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Eastleigh on Tuesday.
The Magpies dominated the game against the Spitfires for large spells but conceded to Eastleigh’s first shot on target as their weakness at defending crosses was exposed again.
The defeat saw Notts fall three points behind the top seven although they have two games in hand on some sides above them.
And Burchnall fully believes the Magpies will be in the play-offs at the end of the season.
“I’ll be honest with you, we all believe that we’re going to be in the play-offs,” he said.
“We all believe that we’re going to be in the playoffs, we all believe that we have enough.
“Even though the last few results have been disappointing there are enough aspects of the play that feel like once we get the result that we want, no matter how we get it, that’s going to kick us on and we’re going to get that momentum.
“And you know what? I don’t care whether we’re seventh or fifth in the play-offs, I believe that whether we’re home or away, we have the capabilities, we just need that momentum.
“And I believe that once we get into that play-off spot, we will be a match for anybody I really do. But we need that result to propel us and that’s what we’re searching for now.”