AFC Telford hot-shot Mike Phenix happy to keep firing in new position

Phenix, who has made his name as a wide midfielder predominantly, grabbed an impressive brace in Monday's 3-3 draw at home to Southport after being handed a rare start as a forward.

The former Skelmersdale player admitted to preferring a midfield role, but, with manager Liam Watson currently favouring a system that uses wing-backs, he is happy to be flexible and return to a position he last played as a teenager.

Asked if he could do a job up front for the rest of the season, he said: "When we play 3-5-2 you are always going to have players like Kristian Platt or Wes Baynes playing in front of you (in the pecking order) out wide.

"It doesn't really suit me but Liam has given me the option (of playing up front) and if I keep on playing well, I can do a job up there. I do prefer to play out wide but as long as I am playing, I am happy to do both.

"I have never really played upfront. I did it as a kid when I was at Bolton Wanderers but from the age of 18 onwards it has always been out wide.

"Playing in the Conference upfront it is really hard because you are coming up against big centre-halves, but Liam has just told me to work hard up there and things will fall for me, and luckily they did on Monday."

Phenix has certainly been among the goals in recent weeks, having netted three times in pre-season prior to his heroics against Southport.

And he is aiming to stay on the goal trail in the coming games.

He said: "I took my time getting going in pre-season. I scored three in the last three matches and I have had chances in the season as well.

"In the first game of the season against Welling I should have scored.

"I had chances against Bristol Rovers, I had chances against Aldershot and yesterday against Southport I got two goals. So I have just got to keep going and hopefully get some more."

Phenix's fine form is all the more impressive given that the player has been suffering from ulcerative colitis recently.

The inflammatory disease hampered part of his campaign last season but he said that the condition is now firmly under control.

He said: "I am fine now. The medication that I am on, it does make me a lot more tired than I was but it keeps it under control. And that is what I would rather do than keep having the flare-ups."