Ryan Higgins insists a play-off push is not beyond the realms of possibility for Chester FC this season.

Right-back Higgins has caught the eye in his three appearances so far and has yet to finish on the losing side.

He scored his first goal for the club in the 4-0 win at home to Lincoln City in midweek and the 20-year-old reckons the manner of the victory and Saturday's 1-0 win over Kidderminster Harriers shows the Blues are capable of mounting a late charge.

Higgins said: "With performances like Tuesday's, why not?

"We've proved on Tuesday and against Kidderminster that we can challenge teams in the play-offs and the top half and the challenge now is to push on and get into the play-offs.

"Before Tuesday we were only nine points behind Kidderminster with a game in hand so now it's six points.

"We don't want Lincoln to go away and say 'we were down to nine men and that's why it was the way it was' because even we 11 men we absolutely dominated the game.

"We said in the changing rooms afterwards we would have preferred them to have 11 men all game because then they can't go away with the excuse of we were down to nine men because the performance from us was brilliant."

Higgins made the switch to the Swansway Chester Stadium from Conference Premier rivals AFC Telford United at the start of January, rejecting an improved offer to stay at New Bucks Head. His transition into the team could not been much smoother and he was delighted to open his account on Tuesday in stunning fashion, rocketing a shot into the top corner from 25 yards with his weaker left foot.

"I'm happy with it and it was just one of those great strikes but I need to try and do it more consistently and if I get another two or three goals by the end of the season I'll be buzzing with that," said the Liverpool-born defender.

"It's been brilliant so far. Coming in from Telford, training every day with the lads and getting the games regularly is ideal for me.

"During training and stuff it's great to have banter with the lads and that's how it is with most of the lads. Browny, John Rooney, McConville... we all just get in with each other and it's great to have them sort of characters around the dressing room because it just lifts everyone."