JOHN Coleman believes Kayden Jackson can thrive in the roll of surprise package at Accrington Stanley, insisting the frontman has the quality for the Championship.

The forward has hit 11 goals this season and in most teams would be at the forefront of opposition minds.

But the form of Jackson’s strike partner Billy Kee, who leads the League Two scoring charts with 18 and has eight goals in his last nine games ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Coventry City, means that former Swindon man Jackson can fly under the radar.

And Reds chief Coleman believes it’s a role that will suit the 23-year-old who was the target of interest from other clubs in the January transfer window.

“It could be a blessing for Kayden that Billy is having a purple patch at the moment because he can go under the radar a bit,” said the Reds boss.

“Kayden’s pace will cause problems for anyone at this level and probably a couple of levels higher but it is not just his pace, his workrate is good, the runs he makes are clever and his touch has improved no end.”

Kee and Jackson have 29 goals between them and Coleman has pleased with the pairing.

He added: “They started off like a house on fire and hit a little bit of a lull and now they have come strong again and you really want them to be firing now in the next two or three months to get the points that we need.”

Jackson only joined Stanley in the summer and has adapted quickly to his first run of games in the Football League.

He has attracted interest from elsewhere and Coleman accepts that admiring glances are part and parcel of the job at the Wham Stadium.

He added: “Kayden can play a lot higher in my opinion and if we keep him until the end of season and we get what we want, which is promotion, and we get a fee that he deserves then everyone is a winner and that is the way our model should be.

“But it has got to be right for the club and it has got to be right for the player.

“We have to sell players the dream, when we bring players here. We have got to show them that we have a proven record of taking people and allowing them the platform to go and play higher.

“The only way you do that is by people doing that. That doesn’t mean I want to sell Kayden, I would be devastated, but if it is good for the lad and good for the club then that is the way it has to happen.

“Kayden is quite a level headed lad. We did get an offer that we didn’t even discuss, I normally discuss it with the players but it was so derisory that it was not even considered so it was pointless even talking to Kayden about it.

“I think Kayden can play at least in the Championship and if that happens next season while we are in League One then great. If not he can play with us in League One.”