Former Coleraine striker Jody Tolan believes “great prospect” Adam Brooks can now build on scoring his first Bannsiders goal and make an impact for the Premiership leaders.

Brooks was one of the highest profile signings across the summer’s transfer window, joining Coleraine in a six-figure deal on deadline day from Crusaders after Conor McMenamin had departed for Glentoran.

The 22-year-old scored seven league goals in his maiden Premiership campaign for the Crues last season and started the current term by netting a hat-trick against Portadown before switching to The Showgrounds.

Brooks ended his wait for a first Coleraine league goal at the eighth attempt on Saturday, coming off the bench to add further gloss to a 5-0 win against his former side at Seaview.

placeholder image — Coleraine's Adam Brooks (right) celebrates scoring his first goal for the club. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

As a successful forward throughout his career, Tolan knows the value of confidence when it comes to the art of goalscoring – and hopes Brooks, who will come up against former manager Duncan Ferguson in his maiden game as Glentoran boss on Friday, has just netted the first of many.

“That's a monkey off his back,” Tolan told the News Letter. “I know myself as a striker, sometimes you go through games where you don't look like scoring, then you get one and next thing you know it’s like London buses, you can score three or four.

"I hope he does that because he looks like a great prospect.

"It is tough because he's going to a side that's firing on all cylinders, he's probably in his own head going, ‘I'm going to a top side, favourites for the league, they're going to create a lot of chances for me’.

"Once he gets in and it’s not happening for him, it can play on your head, but he’s getting in the right positions to score.

"Sometimes a manager won’t mind if you’re missing as long as you’re getting in the right positions – it’s when you’re not there it can become a problem because your confidence is low.

"Hopefully he can go on a run now and score some important goals for Coleraine.”

Brooks has generally had to settle for substitute appearances with star striker Matthew Shevlin once again impressing for Ruaidhri Higgins’ side.

The 27-year-old sits top of the Premiership’s goal charts having struck eight times in 13 matches this term, further enhancing his reputation as one of the most prolific Irish League marksmen of recent times.

Shevlin scored 20 league goals in each of the last two seasons – his personal best so far is 24 in 2022/23 – and netted twice in May’s Irish Cup final win over Dungannon Swifts.

Tolan believes Shevlin stands alone as the league’s best in his position with the ex-Linfield striker possessing all attributes required.

“Shevy is the best striker in the league, he gives you everything,” added Tolan. “He's just a goal poacher who can score every type of goal.

"He also likes the physical side of it, he likes backing in, he likes to fight for everything.

"He's up there on his own which sometimes isn’t easy.

"He battles really well and I think he gets his just rewards in the end, because of the hard work he does, and no doubt his team-mates appreciate what he does.”