Striker Sam Mulready hopes he can excel in FA Trophy action again tomorrow in order to earn more game time at King's Lynn Town.

A hamstring problem, and the form of the club's other frontmen, has seen the 19-year-old restricted to just nine appearances for Gary Setchell's men since he signed on loan in October.

But the Gainsborough Trinity attacker, who lives a stone's throw from The Walks, has saved his best moments for the Linnets' epic Trophy run. His solitary goal came against Eastbourne Borough and arguably his finest display yet came against AFC Telford United in the last round.

Now, the teenager is just looking to impress once more when Southport arrive in Norfolk.

The former Grimsby Town striker said: 'It is frustrating when you don't play but we've been getting good results. The lads have been doing well so all I can keep doing is training hard and trying to impress when I get the chance.

'A hamstring problem kept me out for a bit so I've not played as much as I'd have liked. The boss then bought in Shane Tolley and big Dunks (Dunkley) has been doing well too.

'The Trophy has given me a chance to play a bit and it was good to get on and score against Eastbourne. It was a great moment for me – as was starting against Telford. I played out wide on the left and I feel I did a half-decent job.

'If all goes well I'm hoping to be playing on Saturday and it could be my chance to make a statement to the manager.'

Tolley is cup-tied for the third round clash as the Linnets face another Blue Square Premier club in the competition — further increasing Mulready's chances of featuring.

All he wants now is for his bout of cold to disappear fully so he's raring to go when Liam Watson's outfit arrive minutes from his front door.

'I trained with the boys on Tuesday and I'm not feeling too bad. I'm just full of cold,' said the former Holbeach United loanee.

'I've been down the gym trying to sweat it out and buying things from the pharmacy to be ready. It's a huge game for the town and everybody connected with the club.

'That sense of excitement is growing. The league is the main thing but you can't deny it's a big game. These boys have huge belief. I've never seen anything like it before.

'The fans help as well. They're amazing for this level. They're our 12th man and I'm sure, like us, they'll probably be celebrating in Chicago's if we pull off another win.'