Chris Holroyd isn’t downbeat about being taken out of the frontline attack at Macc.

Far from it. He’s put his pace and skill to use in a new role on the right of the Silkmen 's midfield, although he admits it’s not a completely foreign position to him.

He’s patrolled the right of midfield before and says he’s still finding his feet there but he – and surely many others – are pleased with the progress he’s making.

The Macclesfield-born star, who returned for a second spell at the club in summer last year, has three goals to his name this season, each one a winner.

He scored the only goal of the opening-day win against Braintree, the sole strike as Macc ran over Dover in September, and a second goal to see off Barnet when they visited the Moss Rose in October.

And as he continues his conversion, he feels he’s getting better all the time.

 

“I’m really enjoying it, it’s not a completely new position for me, I played there mostly when I was at Preston, pretty much every game,” said the 28-year-old, now one of John Askey’s senior squad members. “So I’ve done it in the past, I think I’ve grown into the role and understood more what the gaffer wants from me – basically to work hard and help out in with defending as well. As the weeks have gone by I’ve enjoyed it more.

“I’d say it’s a harder position though, you can’t switch off, especially when opposition full-backs are always looking to bomb on, but I understand my role, I feel like I’m gradually getting better, even though because I’ve not done it for a while I’ve had to switch my mentality.

“The gaffer’s great with his feedback, he helps me understand where I need to be and what I need to do to improve my game.”

Holroyd and his team mates were undoubtedly, and understandably, distraught by Saturday’s defeat at Barnet , but the confidence remains sky-high as they get set to welcome Woking this weekend.

And rightly so – with eight wins and four draws on home turf – including that victory over the title favourite Bees – Maxonian Holroyd fancies their chances against anyone who comes to Town.

“We were obviously disappointed to lose that Barnet game, especially as we’d been in front at half-time. In that 10 or 15 minutes after half-time we could perhaps have nicked a second, then it would have been a different story,” he said.

“That’s something we have to improve on, we don’t take as many of our chances as we should.

“We’ve got to take games away from other teams, we need to put more pressure on them.

“But the pleasing thing is that we’re creating chances and we’re starting to look more creative – that’s something that was in need of improvement.

“We’re getting more crosses in and more shots than we were in the early part of the season.

“That’s going to help the attacking lads but from my perspective when I’m tryng to get a cross in I know where and when a striker wants it to go, I can see it from the forward’s point of view – that definitely helps my wing play.”

Video Loading
 

There’s a break from Conference action once Woking are out of the way and the FA Trophy first-round draw has thrown up a second visit down the road to Altrincham.

It’s a game Holroyd is eagerly awaiting as it represents a chance to right the wrongs from the league defeat there earlier this term.

It’s not the club he views as Macc’s prime rivals however, particularly as his most memorable game in a Macc shirt came against Stockport. That’s one he looks back on fondly, for three very good reasons.

“That Alty game was the really disappointing one for us this season,” he recalled. “But we’ve been given a chance to put it right next week, it’s not easy but we’ll definitely be looking to get the win there.

“I know what it means to people around here but to me the Stockport County rivalry was always bigger. I remember that game we won 4-3 there a couple of years ago, it’s probably the best atmosphere I’ve seen, it was a really great night.

“That’s definitely my favourite game for Macc.

“Getting a hat-trick to win it might have something to do with it I suppose.”