KAYDEN: STANLEY CHANCE IS WHAT I NEEDED
Three goals in first two games show Barnsley what they missed
KAYDEN Jackson had a point to prove this summer: to show Barnsley they were wrong not to give him a fair shot.
And the Accrington striker has wasted little time doing exactly that, hitting the ground running like few other players in the EFL.
The 23-year-old notched three goals in Stanley’s first two League Two matches, scoring in the opening-day win over Colchester, before bagging a double in Accrington’s 3-2 defeat to Yeovil last weekend.
It’s almost instant vindication for a man who failed to make a single first-team appearance for Barnsley last season after being plucked from National League Wrexham in the summer of 2016.
He enjoyed a productive first half of the campaign on loan at Grimsby Town – making 24 appearances in all competitions – and, despite circumstances not necessarily favouring him, is adamant he deserved more of an opportunity at Oakwell.
“I always knew that, after seeing them win at Wembley and getting promoted to the Championship (in 2015-16), my chances might be limited,” he admitted.
Worked
“Going out on loan to Grimsby and getting off to a very good start helped as well.
“Even when I wasn’t scoring goals, I was still playing very well and getting in the team.
“But I went back to Barnsley in February, worked hard and did well with the U23 side.
“So, I was a bit disappointed that I wasn’t really given a chance to impress. It’s always good to get on the score sheet early in the season, as I have done for Accrington, especially after last season.
“You don’t want to go a few games without scoring because people start asking questions. As a striker, that’s what you’re brought in to do.”
The Bradford-born attacker attributes his early-season form to a work ethic honed through an unusual route into professional football.
Jackson earned his first pro deal by winning the Samsung Win A Pro Contract competition at Swindon Town in 2013, when he beat off competition from hundreds of fellow amateur players.
“I grew up around players who were at professional clubs and had scholarships, while I was going off to college and playing two games in the same day,” he explained.
“I have friends that have been playing at top clubs, like Leeds and Huddersfield, and when they’ve been released they stopped playing, but I’ve kept on playing.
“I’ve always worked hard for what I’ve got and always will do. That’s the sort of person and player I am.
Milestone
“Now I’m playing in a team that is going to be successful come the end of the season. For however long I’m here I’ll be enjoying my football and work hard for the team.”
Jackson took just nine minutes to make his mark on debut at the Crown Ground this month.
That opening-day strike against Colchester meant he kept his spot for the Carabao Cup first-round win over Preston 72 hours later.
The striker didn’t score in the dramatic 3-2 triumph over their Championship neighbours, but the occasion was just as special as any personal milestone for him and he is now relishing a second-round tie with Premier League West Bromwich Albion.
“It was unbelievable to beat Preston,” he added. “I’ve seen the upsets that Accrington have had in the cup, so instantly I was like ‘wow – now I know how it feels to be an Accrington player’.
“I thought it was a good draw, going up against a Premier League side, who I believe we’ll have a good chance against.
“It’s going to be a very, very tough game. We’ll have to work probably twice as hard as the Preston game, but after the start to the season we’ve had I fully believe we’ll have a good chance.”