Scouting report: Craig Mackail-Smith

Craig Mackail-Smith
Craig Mackail-Smith has flourished at Peterborough United where his scoring ratio has risen to one goal in every two games. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images

Craig Mackail-Smith reminded me of a rampaging Nordic Viking with his long blond hair and the way he picked up the ball and ran at defenders. He was always positive and attacked at every opportunity. It all proved too much for his opponents.

I watched him in Peterborough's match against Bristol Rovers in League One and saw him work their entire back four, track counter-attacking defenders, fill in for team-mates when they were caught out of position and provide a constant option to anyone on the ball.

Given the smallest amount of time and space on the ball, he was looking to put the opposition on the back foot and he frightened defenders into dropping deeper than they might like. It meant the pitch became bigger when his team had possession, allowing them room to play.

He has developed a decent partnership with Aaron McLean and they were instrumental in the build-up to each other's goals - one, a beautiful one-two on the edge of the box and the other a great first-time pass which was timed to perfection. They complemented each other in the final third of the pitch and I liked the way one went short and the other long when the ball was deep in their half and the full-back was in possession.

There are one or two rough edges: his hold-up play could be improved and his pass appreciation, mostly regarding the weight of the ball, needs fine-tuning.

But more important than technique was the fact that he always spotted that early ball. For someone who plays the game at such a rate of knots, that is no mean feat.

I liked the way Mackail-Smith seemed to change pace in the box. He is an extremely clinical finisher - cool, calm and aware of exactly how much time he had to execute his goal. Talking of goals, I must be lucky because this is the second player I've seen score a hat-trick this season. On the evidence of this match it certainly won't be his last.

I say that because each of the goals was different, which is a good sign. His third was a goal of quite stunning quality: after picking up the ball 35 yards out he turned quickly between two onrushing midfielders and, seeing no obvious pass, decided he had nothing to lose and ran at the Rovers defence. He ghosted past one and dropped his shoulder between two others, then found the corner of the net from an acute angle with his left foot. It was a goal to grace any game in the world.

Mackail-Smith had a strange start to his career as he scored only two goals in 45 appearances for St Albans but somehow John Still at Dagenham & Redbridge saw something in him. It was there that he started to realise that undoubted potential, averaging a goal every three games before a £120,000 move to Peterborough United has seen his scoring ratio rise to one in two.

It seems like the better the players he appears alongside, the better he becomes. Only 18 months out of non-league football, this lad is a work in progress, constantly evaluating what it takes to be a full-time professional. But on this evidence you could call him the teacher's pet as, believe me, he's a very quick learner.

How he rates

Age 24

Born Hertford

Position Striker

Height 6ft 3in

Weight 12st 4lb

From Dagenham & Redbridge

Awareness 8/10

Heading 8/10

Shooting 9/10

Pace 9/10

Team responsibility 9/10

Valuation £750,000