Chester FC winger Craig Mahon says he’s flattered his FA Cup performances have got people talking but plans on keeping his feet on the ground.

Mahon was pushed into the limelight following his winner at Southend United in the first round less than 24 hours after his wife gave birth to twins.

He followed that up with a man of the match showing at Barnsley in the second round on Sunday, tormenting the Tykes defence and earning acclaim from both sets of fans, television pundits and Steve Burr.

Mahon said: “For anybody to say anything nice about you is great but especially when it’s the gaffer because he picks the team.

“To hear people like Kevin Kilbane and Jason Roberts saying nice things about me was fantastic but I have got to make sure I’m doing that every week and it’s not a one off.”

Mahon, 25, combines his playing career with his work at Wigan Athletic Community Trust but his fine form through the first half of the season cannot have gone unnoticed and it would be no great surprise were bigger clubs to show an interest.

A direct and old fashioned winger with pace, skill and a big heart, Mahon has been one of the brightest lights in an encouraging campaign for the Blues.

At Oakwell on Sunday he came the closest to breaking the deadlock but home keeper Ross Turnbull, who spent four seasons as Petr Cech’s understudy at Chelsea, denied him with two top class saves.

Mahon suspects the Blues passing approach came as a surprise to the Tykes, who can be expected to be better prepared for the rematch, but remains confident Chester can reach the third round.

“We were playing a League One side at home so they were always going to start off strong but we knew that and we knew that if we could to 20 minutes then we would start to get into the game and I think we did,” said Mahon.

“I couldn’t have hit the second on any sweeter and I was about to start celebrating to be honest but it was a great save and that’s why he’s played at the level he has.

“It’s the FA Cup so anything can happen but I really believe that if we can play at the same level then I don’t think Barnsley can live with us.”

Before then Mahon and his team-mates have FA Trophy business to attend to with a shortish trip to AFC Telford United in the first round on Saturday (3pm).

With the carrot of a final at Wembley – where Mahon’s uncle Alan featured in the 2000 League Cup final for Tranmere Rovers – the winger has stressed the competition remains a priority for the club.

“Everybody talks about the FA Cup and people know it all over the world but being realistic the FA Trophy is our FA Cup,” said Mahon.

“We played them a couple of weeks ago and we know what Telford are about so we have to go there with the same attitude we had on Sunday.”