MARCUS Marshall is the first to admit that he doesn't score as many goals as he should.
However, after opening his Grimsby Town account against Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, the tricky winger has pledged to be more of a threat to opposition keepers this season.
He opened the scoring against the Fleet with a sublime third-minute strike that looked to have set Town on their way in Kent, only for them to be pegged back by Matt Godden's tap-in just before half-time.
Speaking after his man-of-the-match performance, Marshall revealed the goal was the result of some encouragement from joint bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst.
He explained: "I don't score enough goals and the gaffers have told me to shoot more and that's what I'm going to be doing from now on.
"On Saturday, I just cut in and whipped it. I think the keeper might have got fingertips to it, but thankfully it went into the top corner.
"Obviously that was my first goal for Town so I'm pleased to get off the mark – hopefully it's the first of a few more."
Reflecting on the result in Kent, Marshall said: "A point is ok but you always want to be winning games. Away from home, a draw is never really a bad result but, when you're at the top like we was, you want to win all your games.
"Now we've got Gateshead tomorrow night, which isn't going to be an easy game, but we've got to go there looking for the win and get another three points on the board."
Marshall's loan from parent club Bury is set to expire in January, meaning that the 23-year-old will be available for Town's crunch clashes over the festive period.
Scott and Hurst have already mooted that they are looking to extend deals for as many of the current loan players as possible, and Marshall says he'd be more than happy to stay on at Blundell Park and help the Mariners to promotion this season.
He added: "I'm really enjoying my football at the minute with Grimsby. It's just nice to be playing to be honest as it's something that I've not done a lot of over the last year.
"I've been in and out of teams so it's nice to be back. I'm seeing a lot of the ball and getting a lot of touches, so slowly but surely my confidence is coming back.
"I'm happy here and I want to help the team do as best as they can.
"There might be something for me here further down the line, but, at the minute, I'm just taking each day as it comes.
"I'm here until January as it stands and if the gaffers decide that they want to keep me here for longer then I'd be more than happy with that.
"I'm going to be here for the games over Christmas and those are always important, we've got a couple of the loan lads who aren't able to which is a blow but I think we've got enough in the squad to cope with that.
"It's a very tight league – Luton, Newport and Wrexham are all in there but hopefully we can get enough to win promotion."
