Given their present roster, Grimsby Town is unlikely to have a very active January transfer window as players recover from injuries and find their best form.
Of course, if any of the team’s season-long loanees are called back by their parent clubs, or if fringe players move elsewhere in pursuit of consistent first-team play, that could all change. If the money is available, promising Northern Irish striker Makenzie Kirk could be a wise long-term investment to fill any voids.
January is a notoriously difficult time to do business, but Grimsby’s solid start has left them in a better position than usual to pick and choose which areas may require strengthening.
However, there are several factors that could cause it to change in the upcoming weeks. The Mariners have borrowed midfielders Jordan Davies and Jayden Luker, as well as attacker Luca Barrington and striker Justin Obikwu, from Wrexham, Luton Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Coventry City, respectively. As is customary, those teams are able to exercise their January recall clause.
Additionally, Donovan Wilson and Rekeil Pyke, who were contractual frontmen, are no longer included in the first team lineup and, as seasoned players, are therefore probably paid well.
In the event that Wilson or Pyke (or both) depart in the upcoming year, Artell may be able to reinvest some money on a better alternative, which would become essential for depth and diversity.
There will probably be some movement going on both within and outside of Blundell Park, and Artell will probably be keeping an eye on the market. If the funds are available, the former Hearts player might be exactly what they need to compete with Danny Rose and Obikwu.
Kirk, a former Northern Ireland Under-19 international who only joined St Johnstone in the summer after rising through the ranks at Hearts, was born in Edinburgh and possesses the skills and potential to succeed in the game.
Any team trying to wriggle the striker away will have to pull out the chequebook because the Saints paid an unknown sum for him just six months ago, but it might be a wise long-term investment on and off the field.
Despite failing to score during a brief loan stint with Hamilton Academicals last season, Kirk has started to flourish for his new club in Perth. Kirk has scored numerous goals for the Hearts B squad in the Lowland League in the past.
The youngster is the son of former Northern Irish international Andy Kirk, who had a strong career both north and south of the border for the likes of Hearts, Northampton Town, and Dunfermline Athletic. Kirk senior is now assistant manager of his son’s St Johnstone side.
Makenzie Kirk shows all the hallmarks of having a similarly solid, and perhaps even better, career in the game. Energetic, tenacious and pacy, the 20-year-old is a real nuisance for opponents to deal with.
Capable in the air, Kirk is a willing runner that plays on the defensive line and possesses a clinical edge when presented with an opportunity.
The youthful player has begun to demonstrate his abilities in the Scottish top division, scoring three of his team’s 18 league goals thus far and putting on some impressive all-around performances. St Johnstone isn’t the most aggressive or gung-ho of teams.
Instead of purchasing the finished product, anyone wishing to acquire Kirk would be purchasing potential, but the Mariners are in that market.
His qualities might be a wonderful fit for Grimsby’s present strikers, and if he keeps improving under David Artell’s tutelage, he might end up turning a healthy profit for them in the long run.
One of the things David Artell has largely got right in his first year in the Grimsby dugout is his recruitment, and the success of his signings.
Last January, with his side in a relegation dogfight, the former Crewe Alexandra boss brought in central defender Doug Tharme, full-back Denver Hume, and midfielder Curtis Thompson, all of whom played a key role in the club maintaining their EFL status in May.
Over the summer, while looking to sign players to suit a more technical style, Artell had an equally strong success rate, with the likes of Cameron McJannet and George McEachran, who arrived from Derry City and Swindon Town respectively, excelling over the first half of the campaign.
Fellow signings Jason Dadi Svanthórsson and Jordan Wright have taken a little longer to settle in to their new surroundings, but both appear to be finding their feet and have had a real impact recently.
Loanees Davies, Luker, Barrington, and Obikwu have all added to the level of quality and options in more attacking quaters, while full-backs Tyrell Warren and Lewis Cass have both had steady starts to the Mariners’ career.
The Grimsby manager has also had a great impact on his team’s current personnel, as Kieran Green, Evan Khouri, and Harvey Rodgers have all improved significantly in recent months.
Strong recruiting and the capacity to develop players make it a good combination for Artell, and if Makenzie Kirk shows up at Blundell Park soon, Mariners fans have a good chance of seeing that combination succeed once more.
Leave a Reply