McCann Earns League Two Praise After Cheltenham Goal Surge

Charlie McCann has become one of League Two's standout performers after joining Cheltenham Town, with manager Steve Cotterill praising his development and clubs in higher English divisions monitoring the 24-year-old midfielder. According to BBC Sport, McCann has scored seven goals in nine games for Cheltenham and won the League Two Player of the Month award for September. Rangers News reported interest from Championship and League One clubs after his strong start.

Cotterill previously worked with McCann at Forest Green Rovers before bringing him to Cheltenham this summer. He said the midfielder's approach away from matches has improved significantly.

"His footballing ability hasn't changed too much from what I know, but he's a lot more grown up now and I like that about Charlie," said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager.

Cotterill said he had previously challenged McCann to become more responsible because of his ability, adding that the midfielder now represents himself better. "It was one of the big things when I had him before that I would always be on him about - he needed to act more responsible because of his ability," said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager.

"Not that he was doing anything bad but he wasn't giving the best representation of himself that he can do," said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager. McCann moved to Rangers from Manchester United's academy in 2021 and made eight first-team appearances before leaving for Forest Green Rovers in January 2023, according to Yahoo Sports.

He later played for Barrow before Cheltenham signed him this summer. Rangers News reported Rangers could benefit financially from a future transfer because of a sell-on percentage included in his Forest Green move. Cotterill said he has watched McCann's conduct around the team and during interviews, not only his performances on the pitch. "I watched Charlie closely, not when he's playing - I watch him in and around the plays, I listen to him when he does his interviews - he's just great now," said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager.

Cotterill added that McCann had responded positively to earlier guidance during their previous working relationship.

"I don't know who else would have lectured him, I know I did a few times, but he knows now that's all for the good, but at the time he probably didn't," said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager. The manager believes McCann's goalscoring ability can continue despite him not being a traditional striker, after Cheltenham needed more goals following Isaac Hutchinson's departure. "has got an eye for goal" said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager.

Cotterill said McCann's early-season form has shown the midfielder can fill an important attacking role for Cheltenham.

"He's doing it very well so far," said Steve Cotterill, Cheltenham Town manager. McCann also reflected on his Rangers departure, telling The Sun that he believed staying longer at Ibrox could have helped his career path.

"Looking back on my career so far, I think I should have just stuck it out at Rangers," said Charlie McCann, Cheltenham Town midfielder. McCann said he left Rangers at age 20 because he wanted to build his own route in football after moving from the club.

"I was 20 and wanted to forge my own pathway," said Charlie McCann, Cheltenham Town midfielder. The midfielder recalled his experience playing at Rangers, where he appeared in a Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen before moving down the English football pyramid. "It's an amazing stadium and the atmosphere is bonkers," said Charlie McCann, Cheltenham Town midfielder.

McCann described the intensity surrounding matches at Ibrox and the expectations placed on players at the club.

"They literally live and breathe football," said Charlie McCann, Cheltenham Town midfielder. He said handling pressure from supporters was part of adapting to playing for a major club. "It's not nice when you've got 50,000 people groaning at you when you give a pass away," said Charlie McCann, Cheltenham Town midfielder.

McCann added that dealing with that environment was a necessary lesson during his time at Rangers.

"But you've got to learn to deal with that," said Charlie McCann, Cheltenham Town midfielder. McCann is unavailable for Cheltenham's match against Salford City after receiving two yellow cards in the game against Accrington, according to BBC Sport.