Another actioned packed weekend of League Two football has passed, once again posing the question – which players are simply too good for the league?
It’s well-known MK Dons have composed a relative super squad – Nathaniel Mendez-Laing probably the most noteworthy – so for the sake of this list we’ll be omitting them… loss to Accrington aside!
There are numerous good performers this season you can check out on Futmob, but this list will aim to focus beyond that and with a focus on talent that would ALSO excel at the level above!
So without further ado, which League Two ballers could make the step up to the third tier?..
Josh McEachran & Kamil Conteh – MID’s, Bristol Rovers
We’re already cheating! A midfield duo to open proceedings – but without doubt one of the best in the league and one that’s certainly excelled so far this season.
McEachran joined Rovers this summer with a reputation as being slightly injury prone but Gasheads will recognise the technical ability he possesses, combined with the fact he’s played six 90’s this season including three in a row most recently.
The 32-year-old also opened his account last weekend with a slightly flukey goal. Simply playing games after an injury ridden time at Oxford may simply be the priority now, but for Conteh the step up remains firmly on the cards.
He had links to the Championship in January but the 22-year-old’s bone infection ended up ruling him out from Boxing Day for the season. Still, Conteh’s now gone on to not yet miss a league minute.
It’s only a matter of time until the links pick back up, but for now the Gas have a superb pairing in the middle of the park as Darrell Clarke continues his rebuild of Rovers.
Omari Patrick – FWD, Tranmere
This list aims to not simply pick goal scorers – but it would be a struggle to leave this man out! That said, Patrick is much more than simply a talisman, often featuring from the left and bringing assists to the team too.
Although against Salford at the start of the month he played up front, and scored his side’s only goal as they lost 3-1, Patrick’s main starting position is actually left wing in order to accommodate the two target men of Joe Ironside and Josh Davison.
Tranmere are far from a struggling side in terms of expectation in League Two, although the Rovers are winless in four league matches – albeit have played Salford, Notts County, and Walsall in that run.
Any possible struggles only makes Patrick’s figures of five goals and three assists so far in eight starts more impressive; in fact in the loss to promotion chasing Walsall this weekend, the 29-year-old managed an assist.
Patrick has a league leading 7.94 rating this season on Futmob, and his good form goes back into last season too, making Patrick a very worthy pick for this list.
Stephen Duke-McKenna – FWD, Harrogate
A Harrogate player?! Well, in the case of Duke-McKenna you couldn’t ask for too much more of a better start to life in League Two, following his switch from Scottish Championship side St Johnstone.
Scoring the only goal of the game against the now flying Bristol Rovers on the opening day set the tone for what was to come; since then the 25-year-old has tallied another two goals and an assist, on top of possessing a seriously good workrate – essential at the Sulphurites.
Still, those figures may not sound impressive, but Duke-McKenna has achieved that in a Harrogate side with five losses in nine, at an average Futmob rating of 7.46. As noted, his overall performance are also worth more than purely goals.
The winger is also a fully fledged international player, having notched 29 appearances for Guyana; his most recent cap came in the October 2024 CONCACAF Nations League camp where he managed 90 minutes in both losses.
If Duke-McKenna continues his good form, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see higher league opposition come knocking…
Bradley Dack – MID, Gillingham
Gillingham currently sit top of League Two and are on a club record run of 21 games unbeaten – so it feels rude not to include at least one of their players! Off the back of a brace, Dack fits the bill nicely.
The 31-year-old turns 32 on New Year’s Eve but will be best remembered for spending his prime years at Blackburn where in 173 games he tallied 57 goals and 26 assists in his six years between 2017 and 2023 at Ewood Park.
Dack dropped to Gillingham only last summer after a poor sole season at Championship side Sunderland and again injuries hurt as he only played 20 games (17 at the Black Cats). This season had been no such struggle though! Dack has obvious quality and has started seven of eight league games this campaign.
His three goals represent the winning margin in victories against Newport this weekend and Walsall in August. Is a League One move for Dack likely? Probably not – reliable minutes in the fourth tier is better. Has he got the technical ability to do it though? Surely, yes.
Vincent Harper – DEF, Walsall
It feels wrong not to have a defender on here, so why look further than 3rd placed Walsall who boast the second best defensive record of only seven goals conceded (Oldham have only conceded five, and hold the most clean sheets on five, with Gillingham on four, and Walsall three).
Harper was snapped up this summer by the Midlands side after his surprise release from League One Exeter. Injuries played their part in him only playing 27 games last season, but the recent 25-year-old can only boast a previous clubs list of Eastleigh, Chippenham Town, Bath City, and Gloucester City.
Still, the fullback-come-wingback has started life brilliantly at Walsall in League Two as the Saddlers once again try for promotion. That said, Harper did have to wait for his chance and only came into the side in mid-August, replacing the injured Mason Hancock.
Since then though in his five league games he’s managed an average rating of 7.33 and helped his side to three successive clean sheets and an unbeaten run of 13 points from 15 available. If Walsall finally achieve promotion this season, Harper should be able to hold down his spot at the level above.
