Having had his season written off after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September, he defied the odds to make it back in April with possibly the greatest comeback of any player at any club at any time. It was that good,

With Dale pushing for the play offs, they had a potentially difficult game against play off rivals Rotherham United at Spotland, and with time running out, it was looking like we'd had to settle for a draw, and with it Chris Dagnall was chucked on for the last twenty minutes.

The optimists were saying that the script was set for Dagnall to come on and score the winner. Nobody had the script down as being Chris Dagnall coming on and scoring a hat trick in just nine minutes. Roy of the Rovers stuff if ever there was.

And that come back reaffirmed his place as Dale's biggest goal threat. To finish a season with nine goals when you've not been able to even walk for most of it is a great, great feat, and it will be no surprise when Dagnall's name is linked with a move up the divisions when the transfer windows open.

Dagnall's strengths are his pace, his vision and his shooting. All great attributes to have in any striker. And what's more, you can rely on Dagnall to come up with those all important goals. He scored in both legs of the Play Offs in the 2007-8 season, but it was in his first season at the club after his transfer from Tranmere Rovers in which he really grabbed a crucial goal.

Dale were in a post Grant Holt slump, and were undoubtedly heading for the Conference as we headed to relegation rivals Rushden, and we coasting to yet another defeat. Deep, deep into injury times, with taunts about relegation coming from the home end, Dagnall produced a stunning run and finish to grab a late equaliser. Those present were very much of the belief that without that goal, we'd have been down.

2008-9 will be an important season for Dagnall. For perhaps the first time, he'll be looked upon as being the senior striker, and we'll be hoping to get a full season out of him. Should he manage that, then his price tag will be like one of those old Blue Peter appeal boards.