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16
Aug
Harrogate Town winger Stephen Duke-McKenna ready to make a difference
Harrogate Town winger Stephen Duke-McKenna believes he is ready to make a difference for the club this year.
In his first season after joining from QPR last summer, the 24-year-old struggled to make a lasting impact in Simon Weaver’s team.
Racking up just one goal and two assists from 23 appearances and falling down the pecking order for a starting spot, the club decided to loan him out to St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
After returning from his loan, the Guyana international said that playing at a ‘higher level than League Two’ has helped his development.
Duke-McKenna had a positive pre-season this year, despite Harrogate’s form, and repaid Weaver’s faith in him by scoring the only goal in Town’s season opener against Bristol Rovers at the start of August.
The Everton academy graduate’s match-winning goal means he’s already matched last season’s goal tally for the Sulphurites.
Stephen Duke-McKenna scored the only goal as Harrogate beat Bristol Rovers 1-0.
So, is this a statement of intent for things to come? He told the Stray Ferret:
It wasn’t that hard to match, was it?! Scoring is what I aim to do, so it was good to do it in the first game.
I’d be disappointed if I didn’t hit double figures in goals this season. I’ve started early enough. We look a lot more dangerous in attack now and like we can score a lot more goals, so I’m confident.
‘The Scottish League is really underrated’
During his loan spell, the winger featured 11 times for St Johnstone and was part of the team that defeated champions Celtic 1-0.
The Perth side was not an easy team to join halfway through last season, though – six points adrift and bottom of the table, the Saints had managed only six wins from 26.
But Duke-McKenna took the challenge in his stride, being given the freedom to play anywhere across the front three by manager Simo Valakari. The St Johnstone boss regularly praised the winger’s creativity and excitement factor during his loan spell.
The Town number 11 spoke about his loan move:
It was an unbelievable time there. Getting that consistent playing time massively helped my development. I think both me and the team aided each other. I’m an unpredictable player and the manager let me be free in my position, which worked well.
I think the Scottish League is really underrated, you just have to be there to realise it. It’s a higher level than League Two. Hearts, Hibs, and Celtic were all tough tests, and exposed me to that higher level – playing against players who regularly compete in the Champions League.
‘A good headache to have’
Since Duke-McKenna’s return to the club, Harrogate have brought in a flurry of new attacking signings.
Reece Smith, Shawn McCoulsky, Mason Bennett, and Conor McAleny have all been brought in to bolster Harrogate’s attacking options.
With more competition for places, Duke-McKenna, Ellis Taylor, and Harrogate’s other attacking options will need to be at their best to stay in the starting 11.
Stephen Duke-McKenna and Ellis Taylor
The winger said that it can “only be a good thing for the manager to have that sort of a headache” when selecting his side.
All of Harrogate’s attacking signings have hit the ground running so far, bar Mason Bennett, who picked up an unfortunate injury in Bristol. But most notable of the four is undoubtedly Conor McAleny.
A fellow Everton academy graduate, McAleny has experience playing in all four divisions of the English Football League, and has scored in all but the Premier League.
The 33-year-old got his Harrogate career off to a flying start against Grimsby, scoring three minutes into his debut. Simon Weaver labelled him a ‘magician’ when he signed.
Conor McAleny (right) scored three minutes after coming on as a substitute against Grimsby.
Duke-McKenna also sang his praises:
I’ve known about Conor for a while when we were at Everton. He’s a bit older than me so I used to look up to him there – he’s got unbelievable technical ability and a real eye for goal.
He massively aids my game. I usually get doubled-up on but he takes that pressure off me by finding pockets of space and looking for one-twos. It’s nice to have a few scousers in the team now. We tend to gravitate together.
‘We’re going to upset a lot of people this year’
There is no doubt that Harrogate have had a strong start to the season. A win away at relegated Bristol Rovers and, despite being 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go, a 3-3 draw with Grimsby are two results Weaver would have certainly taken before the matches.
Even in mid-week, a mostly second-string team gave Lincoln City a good run around in the first half.
Duke-McKenna said that the mood around the dressing room is the best it’s been since he joined the club.
So, just how far can Harrogate go this season? Before the season started, the bookies had Town as favourites to be relegated. But the winger wasn’t having it:
I think we’re going to upset a lot of people this year. We like being the underdogs. I love all that bookies stuff – it makes me want to prove a point and show them that they’re wrong.
My aim is always to win the league, whether that’s realistic or not. You have to believe it, or what’s the point? I’d love that, promotion, or play-offs this year. As long as we keep doing what we’re doing on the training ground, we have every chance.
Harrogate Town travel to Cambridge today to face another relegated League One side: Cambridge United. Both teams have seen six goals or more across their first two games.
With Harrogate’s attacking power looking increasingly sharp, it may well be a match to remember.
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