Whitchurch Alport star striker Alex Hughes has offered his thoughts on keeping fit and squad building during lockdown.

Despite the lack of any competitive action, Hughes is maintaining his fitness in other ways in preparation for when football does return to Yockings Park.

For the striker, this involves plenty of running, but he is maintaining the competitive element.

“I’ve been running pretty much every day,” he said. “I often run to Wrenbury and back but one of my favourite routes is around the canal.

“There are shorter distances but five miles is pretty typical.”

“The players have a WhatsApp group and we challenge each other on things like Strava to spur each other on.

“We are all the same and everyone’s appetite for the game will have intensified especially after lockdown has ended.

“We all can’t wait to get back to training and playing again.”

Hughes has scored 30 goals since joining the Reds in the summer of 2018 but isn’t averse to having one or two new faces come after his coveted number nine jersey.

He added: “I think Luke Goddard needs to add some more firepower to his squad and I think competition for places is always healthy.

“I’m only 26 and know my best years are still to come. I just need to keep my head down and keep working hard. “I believe in my own ability and always back myself.

“I’m playing at a really decent level and have won trophies since joining the club.

“On a personal level I have scored goals in the FA Cup in each of my two seasons and you dream of things like that when you’re a kid and I’m looking forward to creating some more memories with the rest of my teammates.”

Meanwhile, Goddard has made his first appointment by naming Jack Turner as an additional member of his backroom staff.

The 28-year-old led Crewe to the Cheshire League summit before coronavirus curtailed the season.