Fleetwood Town boss takes satisfaction in striker's development

Young gun Saunders has dazzled this season with six goals in his last three games.

The 23-year-old former Costa Coffee employee bagged a fine hat-trick in a 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Aston Villa last Tuesday.

Three days later, he scored twice in an impressive 4-1 win over previously unbeaten Hull City, who had won all four of their opening league fixtures.

“He’s a big Newcastle fan, so when it came down to signing him, I think the fact I played for Newcastle became a caveat to getting him in,” revealed Barton. “He used to have a poster of me on his bedroom wall!

“We’re really proud of him. His goalscoring is fantastic.

“You’re so, so pleased for the goals he gets, but he’s an embodiment of everything that’s right with football.

“He’s a kid who two, two-and-a-half years ago, was working in Costa Coffee.

“He was trying to scrap his way through the non-league system.

“Stuey Murdoch (director of player development) went and got him with the scouts.

“There’s a great song that our lads sing about Harvey – and hopefully the fans catch on to it when they’re allowed back in.

“But he works tirelessly on the training ground.

“He’s been somebody who has listened to his coaches, he’s constantly asking how he can improve and constantly asking for information on his diet, his sleep patterns and his gym work. That’s why he’s scoring goals.

“He’s been with us 18 months now, and in those 18 months, he’s worked tirelessly to make himself a footballer.

“He got the man of the match award (against Hull). That’s a true success story for a club like us.

“We’ve managed to turn a kid who was maybe on the bottom end of the pyramid and maybe having to work a job to supplement his football.

“To turn it around and to get his goals on Sky, and in front of a nice audience and his parents in the North East on a Friday night, is great.”