Courtney Baker-Richardson was happy to mark his return to Stanley with a goal – even though he didn’t know anything about it!
The Swansea loan striker signed on a season-long loan at the Wham Stadium at the beginning of August, playing three games before a groin/quad injury sidelined him weeks later.
The 23-year-old returned to Swansea for treatment but came back to play 45 minutes in the Leasing.com Trophy final group game against Liverpool Under 21s last night, which Stanley won 5-2.
He ‘scored’ the second goal – Lamine Kaba Sherif firing goalwards and the ball deflecting off Baker-Richardson into the net.
“I didn’t know anything about it to be honest,” he laughed. “At the end of the day I was in the right area, it’s bounced off my toe, you can see the deflection on the cameras. It’s a scruffy goal but it has gone in the back of the net and it’s definitely one on my tally.
“Lammy knows it’s the person who touched the ball last who scores. It may hurt him a little bit but it is what it is!
“It’s a relief to come back. I have managed to come back three weeks earlier from the injury than expected which is always good.
“I have come back here, settled back with the lads again and I am trying to get myself back fit again. I got 45 minutes last night and I just have to break myself in gently.
“Every striker needs their first goal and fingers crossed it will roll on from there.”
Baker-Richardson admits the last two months have been tough as he returned to his parent club to have the treatment.
“It hasn’t been easy, there have been hard times and you can feel down very easily when you have an injury.
“I came into Accrington feeling very good, I just needed a run of games but maybe not playing so many games in pre-season and then three games in a week, it probably was just a bit too much at the time.
“It wasn’t the best of injuries to pick up, I thought it was going to be a casual thing as I have never done anything like that before. I knew as soon as I had done it though that it wasn’t right, I managed to go to Swansea to get treatment and they have looked after me.
“All I want to do is play football, you want to get on the grass and kick the ball, and I was staring at four walls on a treadmill so it was a tough time.
“Thankfully, I am a very positive person and knew I would come back stronger.
“I want to come back now and set my standards and set off properly and get some goals and wins.
“I love football, I want to do my best anywhere I am, Accrington have been good to me, everyone has been welcoming, I got a good reception from the fans last night and I appreciate that. Hopefully I can repay them with goals and wins.
“I am now looking forward to the future and hopefully, by the end of the season, I will have a nice goal tally on my CV.”