STRIKER Collin Samuel is relishing the competition for places up front after signing for Luton Town on transfer deadline day last week, writes Mike Simmonds.
The 30-year-old agreed a short-term deal on Wednesday, and news of his signing was followed with the arrival of Hereford sharpshooter Stuart Fleetwood for a significant five-figure sum.
With Amari Morgan-Smith starting the season in top form, netting four times so far, and Danny Crow also on target twice, Hatters manager Gary Brabin faces a tough decision on who to pick for this weekend’s home clash with Darlington.
Samuel, whose previous clubs include St Johnstone, Falkirk and Dundee United, said: “Any club will have competition for places so you have to train hard every day.”
Brabin has already shown this season he has a liking for both 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formations, asking his strikers to take up wider berths, something Samuel is not adverse to.
He continued: “I can play on the left, in the middle or right side. So it all depends on how the coach wants to play. I quite like playing up front, so it depends what he wants to do.”
The Trinidad & Tobago international, who has featured in a World Cup and been on trial at Everton earlier in his career, was in the stands at Edgeley Park on Friday night to see his new team-mates in action for the first time.
Despite Stockport County’s late leveller, the striker was impressed with what he saw on his first viewing of the Blue Square Bet Premier.
He said: “They played some really, really good football. I’m looking forward to every time that we play and whenever I get the opportunity I just want to try and take it.”
Samuel pulled on a Town shirt for the first time on Tuesday afternoon when he played 84 minutes in the 1-0 Totesport.com Combination League victory at Southend United.
The striker had been suffering with an injury while at Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone last season but is now fully fit and hoping to make an impact for the first team.
He added: “I started off pretty well to the season last year and then picked up an injury which set me back.
“I managed to come back from the injury and want to pick it up and get up to speed as quickly as possible in training.”