IN-FORM striker Marc Williams says Wrexham manager Dean Saunders has made a key contribution to the hot streak that has seen him score four goals in the last three matches.

The Colwyn Bay teenager had started only one game this season prior to the departure of former boss Brian Little, but has repaid the faith put in him by Saunders who saw his side maintain his 100% record to date under the new manager at Mansfield at the weekend.

Williams, a Wales under-21 international, scored the winner at Field Mill after brother Mike had headed an equaliser and yesterday claimed he had never felt more confident.

“This is the best run of my career and every time I go out on the pitch I think I’m going to score,” he said.

“Since the new gaffer came in he has shown his faith in me and I’ve started every game, whereas before I felt that I was played only when there was nobody else available. Now I believe I am in the side on merit.

“I know I’ve got to work hard to keep the shirt, but I’m feeling very confident at the moment. It’s great to be in the dressing room before a game and hear the boss tell the midfield players: ‘Get the ball forward quickly to feet and Marc will get us a goal.’

“The gaffer was a great striker himself and he pulls me aside in training to point out this and that, so if I keep listening to him I’m sure I will improve as a player.”

And Williams reckons Saunders has had a similar effect on all the players in his charge, saying: “It’s going really well at the moment, both for me and for the team. But nobody is taking anything for granted because we are eight points behind the leaders, although we have a game in hand.

“The gaffer has made it clear he is not interested in a play-off spot because he wants Wrexham to bounce straight back into the Football League. So we have to keep grafting for him and for each other because as we have seen already it’s a successful formula.”

The Racecourse boss, meanwhile, shrugged off fresh injury concerns following Saturday’s 2-1 success and promised there would no slackening of the pace he has set, saying: “Three wins on the bounce has created a little bit of momentum for us, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.

“As far as I am concerned it’s full speed ahead to either climb over or go through the clubs that are in front of us. To do that we cannot have any slackers because we have set the bar high for ourselves and we have to take it even higher.”

With defenders Carl Tremarco (ankle) and Mike Williams (concussion) unable to finish the Field Mill match and joining Kyle Critchell, Simon Spender, Andy Fleming and Jefferson Louis on the injured list, Saunders has not ruled out further signings this week.

But he admitted an ambitious bid to sign Kiki Musampa, the former Manchester City winger, had fallen through, for the time being at least.

“It doesn’t look as though that will happen at the moment,” he added. “But we are still looking around and waiting for people to return calls, so there are a few irons in the fire.

“But I have to admit that the players here are making it difficult for me to justify new faces because we keep on winning. The best test of players is when they have lost, but the lads are keeping me waiting for that to happen and long may it continue.”

Saunders confirmed that Wolves will provide the opposition in a training ground friendly tomorrow and revealed he would be keeping one eye on the Dragons youngsters who have an FA Youth Cup tie at Nantwich Town on Thursday evening.

“This is only my seventh full day on the training ground so I have had a lot of other priorities,” he said. “But I will get round to seeing them all because I want to be involved at every level of the club. They need to be ready to play for me if necessary and it’s important for them to realise that they will have to sacrifice a lot if they want to make it in the game.”