Stanley boss John Coleman hopes Shay McCartan can add another weapon to the Reds’ armoury.

While Carlisle (26) are the only League Two side to have conceded more goals than Stanley (25) this season, only three have scored more than the Reds’ 21 goals after McCartan scored twice in Tuesday night’s 3-1 home win against Hartlepool.

James Beattie often spoke of the young Ulsterman’s potential having signed him after his release by Burnley in the summer of 2013.

For the most part, McCartan flattered to deceive last season, his only goal a last-gasp header against York from less than a yard out.

But the 20-year-old forward looks as though he’s about to come of age after marking his first start of the season with a well-taken brace.

His first goal was a solo effort with the second a close-range finish reminiscent of Coleman in his prime as a prolific non-league striker.

“I couldn’t have scored the first goal!” he joked. “It was a great goal and we know Shay’s got that in his locker.

“It’s very hard to defend that because he goes at such pace and moves the ball very quickly. If you try to tackle him you’re always in danger of giving a penalty away.

“If you’ve got that as a weapon you’ve got to use it and thankfully he’s started using it.

“The second is a poacher’s goal so it was the two ends of the spectrum,” added Coleman, who succeeded Beattie last month.

“You had a spectacular goal and then your bread-and-butter one, and I hope that gives Shay the confidence to kick on.”

McCartan had impressed Coleman since his return to the Store First Stadium so was next in line when defender Nicky Hunt was forced to rule himself out of Tuesday’s game after complaining of chest pains.

Coleman had to shuffle his pack, playing McCartan at left midfield with Lee Molyneux filling in at left-back. The pair were pushed forward after striker Sean Maguire was replaced by midfielder Anthony Barry, with this time captain Luke Joyce dropping into defence.

But they each performed their role admirably as Stanley returned to winning ways after two successive defeats.

“I’m pleased the lads got the reward for the hard work they put in but I must say that Hartlepool are a good side,” said Coleman.

“They played some smashing football and on another day we wouldn’t have won, but that’s footy.

“I thought we always looked a threat and I was particularly pleased with the way we saw the game out. The hunger the players showed from the first minute to the last was probably the most pleasing thing. For that alone I think we deserved to win.”

McCartan hopes to keep his place for Saturday’s trip to face Newport County, where Stanley began Beattie’s reign with a 4-1 defeat last season.

Hunt has had a check-up and was due to return to training on Thursday but Adam Buxton and Michael Liddle should remain out.