Ash ready for his big chance

YOUNG loan striker Ashley Chambers has been banging in the goals for Grimsby Town Reserves – and hopes it will earn him the chance to do the same for the first-team against Bournemouth today (3pm).

The 20-year-old has figured just once for the Mariners since joining in January on a deal until the end of the campaign – that was just a few days later when he started in the defeat at Rotherham.

Since then he has been a frustrated spectator and has yet to play any part on home turf.

But, after a midweek brace for the second-string against Middlesbrough, he is praying for an opportunity against the Cherries.

Chambers said: "It's been really frustrating for me.

"My first game against Rotherham wasn't the best of starts to my Grimsby career.

"My chances since then have been few and far between.

"But, hopefully, with the run-in coming up and the team needing results, I can get in the team and bring to the table what needs to be brought.

"All I can do is what I've been doing in the Reserves and score goals. It's nice to have the Reserve games because it keeps you match-fit when you don't play on a Saturday.

"It means you are ready to work to your full capabilities if you do get a chance.

"I need to keep showing the manager what I can do and that I'm capable of adding something different to the team.

"It's the manager's job to pick the team and I'm doing what I can to persuade him to put me in it.

"It's nice to hear him say recently I'm in his thoughts, but I have to do more to show him I should be in the team."

Chambers hopes his chance comes today in the first of back-to-back matches against the division's top two.

If it does it may even see him paired with Tommy Wright in a Leicester-born strike-force.

He admits he would like that, but would just be happy to play.

He went on: "It's a very tight group of players here and I enjoy it a lot.

"Everyone gets on and, aside from not playing as much as I'd like, I'm enjoying my time here.

"The next two are massive games but not ones to write off – surprise results can happen in this league. The other week Bradford beat Rochdale 3-1 on their own pitch.

"It's a crazy league. We've been playing some good football over the past few weeks so we need to go into both games positively."