Stockport County should seek January agreement for player with loose Bolton connection | OneFootball

The young forward looks like a strong prospect rising through County's ranks

Che-Daniel Gardner is one of a handful of exciting prospects to rise through Stockport County’s youth ranks since the academy system was properly reactivated.

Through the Hatters’ non-league years, much of the focus was on survival and climbing back into the Football League, without funds to invest much in youth development.

But now there’s a steady stream of young players coming through with facilities in place to cater for them, and Gardner — son of Bolton Wanderers legend Ricardo Gardner — is the next in that line.

He’s found some opportunities in the senior squad this season, but a short stint away from Edgeley Park, adjusting to the regular schedule of senior football, may set him up nicely for next season.

Gardner’s impressed in the early part of this season

Fans real first taste of the player Gardner came in pre-season, scoring County’s first goal of the new campaign in a friendly against Chester.

Since the start of the season proper, Gardner’s opportunities have been more limited — as to be expected for a player breaking through at 17 years old — but he has played a full 90 minutes in both the Carabao Cup and the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, plus making his Football League debut with a short cameo off the bench in the opening game of the season against Cambridge United.

In the minutes he’s played, he’s looked like an electric attacking player, playing with a fearlessness that can make him a dangerous opponent when given time and space to stamp his name on a game.

However, again, as to be expected due to his age, he is not yet a regular in County’s matchday squads, partly through youth but also likely due to the quality and depth of the Hatters’ squad.

Manager Dave Challinor’s including him in first-team proceedings in the early part of this season, however, suggests he’s already maturing away from academy football.

A short-term loan this winter could be ideal for his development

At 17, there will be no sense inside the club that they want to rush the development of Gardner — too much too soon is not always a positive experience for players — but if he has indeed got pretty much everything he can do out of youth football then a short-term loan, even a month-long stint, could be a great middle-ground as the next step in his growth.

If he drops to a level where he’ll be competing for first-team minutes, likely somewhere in the top two steps of non-league, it’ll provide important lessons about the regular schedule of games, competing for places, and generally being part of the matchday squad on a weekly basis.

Even if he doesn’t start every game for his temporary club, it’d be a great experience, but the fact he’s managed to muscle his way into cup games with third-tier County suggests he’d have a lot to offer a club in a lower division right now.

However, it’s not unusual for outside observers to quickly get excited about a young talent and want to see them make the next step — the backroom staff at County are the ones who’ll see him daily in training and know whether he’s ready for the physicality that a lower division would present.

It’s clear they see a bright future ahead for Gardner though, having just had him sign a three-year professional contract shortly after the earliest possible moment he was eligible to do so.

Che-Daniel will hope to follow in the footsteps of his father

Regardless of how the rest of this season goes for Gardner, he has entered the conversation around Edgeley Park with plenty excited to see how he’ll develop.

One of those excited onlookers is world-record-holding sprinter Usain Bolt, who is a friend of Gardner’s father, Ricardo, and has kept tabs on Gardner’s progress at County and celebrated his achievements online.

The younger Gardner will hope to emulate even a slither of his dad’s success — who made 397 appearances for Bolton, predominately in defence, but still scored 21 goals and provided 12 assists.

He also turned out 109 times for Jamaica, the country he was born in, scoring 10 times.

The Hatters fans will hope that if Che-Daniel does become as successful as his father, he will carry through Ricardo’s one-club ethos, putting his talent to use in a blue shirt throughout his career.

A loan may set Gardner up nicely to contribute more to County’s senior squad next season, but either way, the Hatters youth prospect looks to have a very bright future ahead of him.