MARCUS Carver is hoping to build on his first goal of the campaign and secure a regular place in the Stanley first team.

The 20-year-old scored the opener in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat to Carlisle in his first start of the season.

Now he wants to push on and celebrate some league goals while helping the Reds move up the table.

“I always want to score goals when I am playing but I hadn’t had many chances this season with a few minutes here and there so I knew, when I had my chance, I had to take it.

“At the beginning of the season I wasn’t involved at all but then I pushed myself and got on the bench and in and around the squad and now I have got my first start and my first goal.

“That can only breed confidence for me but it isn’t about me scoring, it’s about the team getting that first win and I am sure it will come soon.”

Carver, from Great Harwood, admitted having the likes of experienced frontman Brett Ormerod, who is training with the Reds, and boss James Beattie around has helped him develop as a striker.

“Brett is great, he is really dedicated and wants to play. He is great at helping the young lads and offering advice.

“It is hard as the average age of our strikeforce is 21 or 22 while most other clubs have strikers of around 28 or 29 which does show what we are up against.

“But hearing about Brett and the gaffer’s career makes you think ‘I want to experience some of those things’ and they are great to train with, pick up tips and it is all a learning curve for us.”

Carver, who came through the ranks with the Reds, will relish the chance if he starts tomorrow against Tranmere.

“It is a big game for us. They are a big club who will want to go straight back into League One but we know, if we can get one win like we did last year, we can build on that and we know we are more than capable of getting that win.”