In-form Linnets proving adaptable ahead of Chorley trip

Linnets boss Adam Lakeland believes his side’s recent good run of form proves his team can function effectively with or without a recognised striker.Second-placed Lynn put their six-game unbeaten run on the line when they third-placed Chorley in a huge National League North clash on Saturday.The prolific Jonny Margetts has missed Lynn’s recent resurgence on the pitch with a back injury while attacking midfielder Josh Hmami – used as a striker in the wins against Buxton and Oxford City – has been absent from the club’s recent two outings at home to Leamington and away to Spennymoor.Lynn’s injury woes have handed Gold Omotayo another chance to impress in the last two games and Lakeland touched on the flexibility that he has in the squad after the goalless draw against Leamington.Lakeland said: “Josh has had a great start to the season and when we’ve used him as a striker he’s been phenomenal.”He has been playing well and if he’d not pulled up yesterday, he would have played again.”I felt Gold today was very good and it’s probably as good as I’ve seen him. “I want to see and I expect to see that more because he’s capable of that type of performance and I need him to replicate that every time he’s on the pitch for me. “We’ve missed Josh today and in the second half he’d have made a bit of a difference with his cute movement and runs and his ability to let shots go from 20 to 25 yards.”The Lynn boss is pleased with the impact of his squad as a whole and, with both Margetts and Hmami edging closer to a return, knows he will have selection headaches moving forward.But whatever side he puts out on the pitch, he firmly trusts his gut instinct. “I’ve managed 400 games since I started managing at Northwich and probably one of the biggest things I’ve learned about myself is I have to trust my gut because usually my gut’s right,” he said.”I just had a feeling before the Buxton game that Josh Hmami could give us something up there and look, it’s it’s one of them as a manager it could have backfired. “He could have been poor and we could have lost a game and then I get pelters. But if it goes the other way then I’m a genius which I prefer the latter.”I just had a feeling about him. I thought he played well and he was great again on Tuesday night (Oxford City). “This is why you need a strong squad and it hasn’t done Gold or any arm and seeing him going up there and doing well because it shows there are other players in the building that can do that role.”We’ve got unbelievable strength in depth and the lads know that when they’re in the team if they don’t play well there’s a possibility they could come out and that’s why at the minute everybody to a man is generally performing.”