Salford City loanees Marcus Dackers and Kevin Berkoe will go head-to-head this weekend as Southend United take on Woking in the National League.
21-year-old Dackers joined Southend in January; the striker opened his account for The Shrimpers in a 4-1 win against Aldershot last month but has since failed to add to his tally.
Standing at 6’7, Dackers physical presence and aerial threat have made him an appealing short-term option for non-league sides in need of a forward. Although Dackers is still in the initial stages of his professional career, he is quickly becoming a journeyman footballer.
The attacker is now in his 2nd spell at Southend United having previously played for the side in the 21/22 season, he has featured for five clubs in four seasons.
Salford City head coach Karl Robinson gave Kevin Berkoe his professional debut in 2019 as the manager of Oxford United. Despite Robinson’s praise for the “quick and technically very good” defender, Berkoe failed to force his way into the team’s starting 11 and was subsequently sold to The Ammies after a short loan spell at Oxford City.
Since signing for Salford City in 2020, Berkoe has featured 21 times for the side, netting twice, either side of a loan spell in the national league at Maidstone United.
Despite the arrival of former manager Karl Robinson, Berkoe has struggled for minutes as a Salford City player and has not appeared for The Ammies since the turn of the year.
However, this weekend Berkoe made a dream come to life as a Woking player, scoring the winner on his full debut. The defender scored the only goal of the game in The Cardinals’ 1-0 victory over high-flying Barnet.
⚽️ Kev Berkoe scored the winning goal for Woking at the weekend, on his home debut after signing on loan! https://t.co/neKPdyqKMw
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) March 19, 2024
A recent upturn in form has propelled Woking away from the National League relegation zone. The Surrey-based side occupy 14th position in the English fifth tier and have won four of their last five league games, manager Micheal Doyle will have their sights set on a top-half finish.
Although Woking will arrive at Roots-Hall in impressive form, Southend United come into the game on an unbeaten run. The Essex-based team are unbeaten in their last nine League games.
With both sides in red-hot form, Southend United’s match with Working this weekend looks set to be an entertaining encounter, Dackers and Berkoe will be hoping to feature as their respective sides look to surge up the table before the season’s end in April.
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