On Monday, Morecambe announced via club media that loanee Michael Mellon had been recalled by parent club Burnley.
Mellon had been in a rich vein of form during the first half of the season, becoming the focal point of the Shrimps attack. Having first joined the League Two outfit last January on loan, the striker would return to the Mazuma Stadium at the start of the 2023/24 season for a second loan spell with the club.
During his first spell with the club, which came during Morecambe’s time in League One, Mellon would register two assist in eights matches, a number that he would dwarf this season.
The striker leaves the club having scored 13 goals in League Two this season as well as supplying one assist. Having played a part in 38% of the club’s League Two goals , his departure will be a huge loss for the Shrimps.
However one club’s loss will become another club’s gain, with the 20-year-old looking likely to have another spell out on loan. Having proved his credentials in League Two, Mellon seems destined to once again try his hand in League One.
Here are five teams which could use Mellon’s services to improve in the second half of the season…
One of the most obvious teams in the hunt to sign Mellon would be Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City. It would be an understatement to say that the Imps have struggled in front of goal recently, with just three goals in their last five league matches. As a result, Skubala’s men are winless during that spell, and seriously need a spark in order to save their season.
Bringing Mellon in could do just that and his exploits in front of goal this season surpass all of Lincoln’s forwards. With Daniel Mândroiu their top goalscorer this season with five goals, it is an obvious position which needs addressing in January and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Lincoln pursue the 20-year-old.
Having scored a league-low 17 goals this season, Shrewsbury could do with a man who can put the ball in the back of the net. Despite their poor goalscoring record, Salop do find themselves in 15th, a whole seven points above the relegation zone.
That being said, manager Matt Taylor will still want them to climb higher up the table in the second half of the season as well as to further increase their buffer to the relegation zone. Mellon would certainly bring goals to the New Meadow and there could be less pressure on the youngster compared to other clubs.
Rock-bottom of the third tier and already eight points from safety, it seems to be panic stations at Fleetwood. Now on their third manager of the season it looks as if the Cod Army may require a miracle to preserve their League One status.
Acquiring Mellon on a loan deal could be the catalyst for a potential miracle at the club, yet the youngster could not do it all by himself. Burnley may look at the situation and may decide it is not the best place in terms of progression which could impact the likeliness of a move, though it is one which makes sense geographically.
In a similar position to that of Fleetwood, Carlisle are beginning to find themselves at risk of falling adrift from the rest of the teams in the League One relegation battle. Like many of the others in the list, goalscoring has been one of Carlisle’s biggest problems so far this season, with no forward scoring more than four times in the league.
Though they have already signed striker Luke Armstrong in the transfer window, their is still space for Mellon in manager Paul Simpson’s plans, especially with Luke Plange returning to Crystal Palace. Simpson is known for developing young talent most notably through his previous work with the England under-20s and that is something which might interest Burnley.
With there being murmurs of Jordan Rhodes potentially returning to parent club Huddersfield, there could be a vacant spot up top for the tangerines. Blackpool have far higher aspirations this season than the rest of the teams in the list and are still in contention for a place in the play-offs, currently sat in eighth.
Though the move makes plenty of sense geographically, if Rhodes does leave, then there could be plenty of pressure on Mellon to lead the line if he did make the move. Mellon may flourish with the opportunity to play for an ambitious side, but it may come with its risks.
Senior Editor
