Elliot Hodge: Telford loan was a 'no-brainer'

The 20-year-old winger has signed on an initial one-month deal from the National League side and made his Bucks bow in the defeat at Harrogate Town last weekend.

A product of the Nottingham Forest academy and the son of ex-England man Steve Hodge, he had a temporary spell with Stafford Rangers earlier this season and is now eager to show what he can do in the National League North.

"Being a footballer, you always want to progress and look to improve," said Hodge.

"I loved my time at Stafford and then the opportunity to come to Telford came up – and I could not miss out.

"I didn't expect it to be the set-up that it was at Stafford and the football in the Evo-Stik Premier is good. It was a really good experience for me.

"I remember coming to Telford with Lincoln to watch when they were in the Conference not long ago.

"I know where the club belongs and it was a no-brainer for me to come here."

Assistant boss Larry Chambers has spoken of how the natural width that Hodge brings can be beneficial to the side.

He is set to miss out on the trip to Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy on Saturday as he has featured for Stafford in the competition this term – but has clear targets to meet during his time at the New Bucks Head.

"It is the same wherever you go. The aim is always to do well, impress and enjoy it," said Hodge.

"If you are not enjoying it, you are not going to do well. I want to be creating goals and scoring goals.

"If we don't win games, I won't be happy and that is the same for everyone here. Hopefully I can impress and do my part to help the side win games."

Hodge played as one of a front three at Harrogate along with Connor McCarthy and Josh Wilson before being taken off in the 69th minute.

"It was a disappointing result. Harrogate were not on a good run of form going into the game but they are a well-drilled side and they made it tough," Hodge added.

"There's a lot I don't know about the players at the moment but that will come. That's what you need – to be playing with them all of the time so you can learn things from each other."