Mackail-Smith hopes new manager will play him in a central role

The former Peterborough and Brighton attacker was Town’s big-name signing in the summer, but has struggled so far this year, scoring just three times, his last coming back on September 19 against Mansfield.

Under caretaker boss Andy Awford, Mackail-Smith has been deployed in a far wider role recently, as he hopes that will change when a permanent manager is appointed.

He said: “I hope so, that’s my best position, that’s where I know I can perform at my best.

“I don’t feel I’ve been given the opportunity up there as much as I can and the last few weeks I’ve done a job for the team.

“Whatever I’m asked to do I’ll do, it’s not my favourite position playing right side and playing a more defensive role but I’ll do that for the team.

“Hopefully the new manager will come in and maybe play two upfront and there can be some competition between me Benno, Jack, and Josh and hopefully we can score some goals.”

With a large squad assembled by previous John Still in the summer, Mackail-Smith appreciates it has been a real challenge finding out the best 11 available.

He continued: “We’ve got so many good players and so many formations and that is the problem, it’s keeping the best 11 in a formation and staying with that and building a team around that, so if you’re not in the team, you’ve got to work hard to get in that team.

“A new manager will come and decide that, me, I enjoy playing with two upfront or one off the forward and injuries to Paddy (McCourt) and other players have made it difficult to see your best team.”

Despite struggling for form recently, Mackail-Smith insists he will be giving his all for the team to ensure he is the new manager’s plans when he takes over.

He added: “Everyone’s playing for their places, the next manager, whoever he could be, could be watching, so everyone’s got to be grafting as hard as they can to make sure when he comes in that they’re in his team, because he’s going to make a judgement call.

For me personally, I will be working my behind off week in week out to make sure I’m in that team and doing the right thing, and if not, I’ll find out why and then put myself in that position to be back in the team.

“I can’t talk for other players, how they’ll see it when the new manager comes in, but that’s the thing, you need to perform out there week in week out to decide who his best team is and if you’re not in it, you need to work hard to get in it.”