Phil Starbuck has challenged Mario Pedro to become a cult hero with Hednesford fans - after revealing the Portuguese winger has adapted to English football.
The 30-year-old wide man scored two goals this week - firing the Pitmen into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup against Stratford in Wednesday’s replay after netting in the 5-3 win against Boldmere St Michaels in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Monday.
“I saw something in him on Monday which I haven’t seen before,” said Starbuck.
“He got absolutely smashed between two of their players and went down like a sack of spuds.
“But fair play to him, he got up and battled on. That was a new side to him and I turned to Jimmy Mullen (assistant boss) and said: “He’s got to grips with the English game.
“It takes time for people to adapt but I always thought he was a good player - people said it was a kneejerk reaction bringing him back when Simon Forsdick left but that’s rubbish.
“I didn’t want him to leave in the first place. He played a couple of pre-season games but he wanted to try his luck in the Football League and went to Walsall and Leeds on trial.
“It didn’t work out but he’s come back and if he performs to the levels I know he’s capable of then he could become a real star for us.
“He’s proved what he can do and I’ve been justified in picking him. He’s got two goals in two games but I don’t just want him to do it in two games - I want him to do it over a whole season.
“Having said that, he’s 100 times better than last season in his command of the English language, his strength and his consistency.”
Starbuck’s satisfaction over Pedro’s return has been checked by the news striker Reece Styche is out for at least six weeks with a broken foot.
A product of the Pitmen youth set-up, Styche fell awkwardly in the FA Cup tie and immediately signalled to the bench that something was wrong.
The blow is particularly galling as it came just two days after Styche hit four goals in the Boldmere game.
“He has his foot in plaster and it’s a big blow for him and us. Anyone who can score four goals in a game will always be in contention,” said Starbuck.
“He’s got to get strength and his fitness, so he could be out for eight weeks.”
Starbuck was also disappointed to lose Gary Sucharewcyz again after the key defender was limped off again on Tuesday.
“I think it’s the inside of his thigh or back of his knee,” said the boss.
“I’ve called him Sicknote now because it’s unbelievable how many injuries he’s had.
“He was obviously struggling as the game wore on. We’ve had to wait for him for a long time and it seems it’s been a catalogue of injuries he’d had, one after the other.”
The Stratford success clinched Hednesford a home tie next Saturday against Alfreton, where Starbuck was pipped for the manager’s job by Gary Mills.
Meanwhile, the Pitmen boss’s attempts to strengthen his defence have been hit by Joe Williams’ decision to stay at Chasetown.
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