Linnets boss in no rush to replace injured Barrett

King’s Lynn Town manager Adam Lakeland says he will not rush into bringing a new striker to the club following an untimely injury to Josh Barrett.

The mercurial Barrett is set for a spell on the sidelines after breaking his metatarsal in a bizarre training ground incident on Friday.

With Jordan Ponticelli also out injured, it leaves Lakeland and his assistant Sam Walker short on options up top.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw against Blyth Spartans on Saturday, Lakeland said: “We’re always looking, but it’s probably getting boring now when I keep saying that it’s the hardest part of the job and it’s generally never been my style to just jump into bringing bodies in here and there because if you get the wrong ones and it doesn’t work, you’re stuck with them.

“That doesn’t help us or the loan club or the players. So we’ll be patient and we’ll take our time. But I think we probably do need to look for something else now at that top end of the pitch, but we won’t just rush in, we’ll be patient and make sure we get the right ones.

“It’s a big blow. But we’re not going to make an excuse or anything of it. We can still win games without him. So we’ve got a crack on.”

Lynn’s boss revealed that the club are close to extending midfielder George Morrison’s loan stay at The Walks.

The Fleetwood Town starlet continues to impress in a Linnets shirt and Lakeland confirmed that an extension with the League One outfit is all but a done deal.

“We’ve had conversations about extending that until at least February and it’s just a case of signing the paperwork off, which I’m sure will get done,” he said.

“When you’re watching him play, it’s hard to think that he’s just turned 18 because he plays with such maturity and probably the greatest thing I’ve noticed about him is that there’s maybe been a couple of times in previous games where maybe he’s made not the best decision, but he then corrects it in the next game. He wants to learn, he wants to get better and he doesn’t generally make the same kind of bad decisions twice.

“I’m really pleased for him and I think you probably need to mention Cammy (Cameron Hargreaves) as well in there because I think the pair of them have been absolutely outstanding.

“The amount of energy and legs that they give us in the middle of the pitch is superb and the pair of them are striking up a decent little partnership now and hopefully that’ll keep going.”

Lakeland also hopes Lynn fans will now see the Ben Stephens from last season after the striker ended his two-month wait for a goal at the weekend.

“I’m just really pleased for Ben because I think it’s fair to say his confidence has been (low).

“He’s been quite critical of himself because he’s obviously had some really good chances in probably every game since (assistant manager) Sam (Walker) and I’ve been here and just things haven’t quite gone for him.

“But he’s got so much ability, and quality is permanent, so. I’m pretty confident now that he’s got that monkey off his back, so to speak, that he’ll kick on and that will only benefit us going forward.”