Scout Report: Carl Baker

Carl Baker - Stockport County

Baker is a player that the mighty have been linked with over the last couple of seasons.

In July 2008, Stockport County paid a fee believed to be in the region of £200,000 to Morecambe for the midfielder. That`s quite a sum of money for the lower leagues and for a player who had recently joined the league football at a later age than many others.

Who says players can`t join the professional ranks late. Baker joined Morecambe at the age of 25 from non - league football, reminiscent of one David Eyres. The similarity doesn`t stop there either. Baker is an attacking midfielder who certainly has an eye for goal. He`s started 138 games since playing in the league and has a current goal tally of 38, that`s an impressive almost a goal every four games.

He`s not afraid to shoot from distance and has a sweet right footed strike on him. A recent televised penalty was inch perfect, unstoppable, and but it`s his all round game that is catching other clubs` eyes. In the first division he is bossing games from midfield. His energy has him all over the pitch and he reminds me of Richie Wellens with his ability for the killer pass, and certainly Wellens has improved with age.

His passing is precise, he has the ability to go around players and his awareness of other players around him allows him to distribute the ball well. There`s no reason why this lad can`t continue to progress at the rate he has done in the last couple of years.

Stockport are in financial difficulty. Administration means that a decent offer should be accepted.

Do we really need another midfielder? Isn`t this lad out of the criteria that Holloway is looking to buy in? Charlie`s not going to be around forever, and at 6`2" Baker has a midfield 'presence`. He may not be the youngest in age, but he certainly stands out as a player to watch and from what I`ve seen of him he`s certainly worth a punt.

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