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Stockport County boss Dave Challinor could line up one surprise ahead of their clash with Leyton Orient.
Stockport County travel to Leyton Orient in their League One play-off clash, which will see both sides fight it out across two legs for a place at Wembley.
Dave Challinor has masterminded a meteoric rise for Stockport County as manager of the League One club, who have risen from the depths of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, to being potentially three games away from promotion to the Championship.
Stockport’s rise through the leagues has arguably eclipsed Wrexham’s success under Hollywood-owned Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney due to the fact that County have invested in a squad with a more frugal yet effective approach. Notably, Stockport still have goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe in the side, who has gone from being the club’s No. 1 in the National League North to playing on 19 occasions in League One.
With such a crucial tie awaiting the Hatters, Stockport boss Challinor could have one surprise lined up which would see the ‘best finisher’ lead the line away at Brisbane Road.
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Stockport County boss Dave Challinor could start deadly ‘finisher’ Benony Breki Andresson in Leyton Orient clash
Whilst some may suggest that Stockport County may sit back and look to defend on their travels before facing Leyton Orient at Edgeley Park in the second leg, it wouldn’t be Hatters boss Challinor’s style, and as a result, he could make the bold call of starting Icelandic attacker Benony Breki Andresson.
The 19-year-old joined this January from KR Rekjyavik, and whilst his game time has been rather limited, he has shown incredible ability in front of goal for such a young player.
With four goals to his name so far, which includes a brace on his debut, as well as one last time out against Wycombe Wanderers, there is no doubt that he could play a crucial role for County in their play-off campaign.
It would certainly be a surprise to see Challinor line up with the Icelandic attacker leading the line due to the fact that he has started just two games, but he has been prolific so far, notching a goal every 68 minutes in the league.
What Dave Challinor has previously said about wild card Benony Breki Andresson
If Breki Andresson isn’t set to start for Stockport County, there is no doubt that he will play at least a cameo role in the tie due to the fact that Challinor clearly thinks fondly of the teenage sensation.
Per The Chester Standard, Challinor has been clear with his views on the attacking, having said back in March: “He’s a finisher, we’ve seen that from when he’s come into the club.
“Without putting too much pressure on him, he’s probably the best finisher that we have in the team. That’s a big statement after only being here for the time he has – it’s great for him.
“We just needed some impetus of legs and aggression and front-footedness, and we didn’t have that in the first half for whatever reason.”
The fact that the striker is able to provide ‘aggression’ when introduced could be enough to give him the green light to start against Leyton Orient; he could be very useful for Challinor to ruffle a few feathers in the opposition’s backline.