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Coyle backs Schalk to fire way back into starting line-up

Alex Schalk scored twice for County
Alex Schalk scored twice for County

Ross County manager Owen Coyle says forward Alex Schalk will force his way into his starting line-up if he continues to find the net.

Dutch attacker Schalk came off the bench to net two late consolation goals in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss against Aberdeen on Wednesday, taking him to seven strikes for the season in all competitions.

With Coyle adding attackers David Ngog and Inih Effiong in January, Schalk has found starting opportunities limited in recent weeks, however Coyle says the door is open for the 25-year-old to become a regular.

County face Dundee at Dens Park today, and Coyle said: “Alex has always been in my thoughts. I’ve spoken to him every week about it.

“The thing about strikers – and I’ve been there myself – is when you get the opportunity to play, any striker scoring goals is never going to be out of the team.

“It is a simple fact – if Alex, or any of the others, are scoring goals every week they play.

“When you don’t play, it is for a reason. I think he would conceded himself there have been chances that have gone a-begging.

“He took two very well against Aberdeen and anyone in goalscoring form will always be in your thoughts. Technically, he’s a terrific player. For him, it is a great boost because strikers love to score goals.

“Had he been out of our thoughts he would have gone out on loan, but nothing could be further from the truth.

“You can never have enough goalscorers at your club. Only one or two can play at a time, but it doesn’t mean the rest are bad players.”

County are in need of points ahead of today’s crucial game against the Dark Blues, with the Staggies six points adrift at the bottom of the table with 13 matches left.

Coyle knows the Staggies need to cut the gap sooner rather than later and the Staggies boss, who could have midfielders Jim O’Brien and Greg Tansey back in contention today, added: “All we’ve got to do now is go and win our points. We want our talking done on the field. That’s where we need to produce collectively.

“The teams around about us we have to play twice, so the opportunity is there to gain the valuable points we need.

“We have to edge closer to the pack and the only way to do that is to go to Dundee and get a big result down there.

“We need to start picking up points and get some wins to give everybody a lift.”