ON-LOAN striker Danny Elliott hopes his inspired form can help propel Chester to promotion glory this term.

Elliott has hit the goal trail at Alfreton Town, netting five times in three outings for the Derbyshire club who host Chester on Saturday.

Ineligible to play in the National League North clash, Elliott will return to the Blues when his month-long loan deal ends on February 21.

And the 24-year-old Nottingham Forest academy product admits that his confidence has flourished in recent weeks.

He said: “It’s been brilliant for me. I arrived here raring to go, but obviously the tragic events of Jordan Sinnott’s death meant the Gateshead game was postponed and so I made my first start against Gloucester.

“Coming into a new club you’re a bit nervous and desperate to do well, so getting my first goal in the 12th minute and then going on to get a hat-trick was a great feeling.

“To do that so early on gave me a huge lift in confidence and I’ve been able to build on that with two more goals since.”

Elliott has not been a stranger to the rest of the Blues’ squad and has continued training with them on Mondays and Fridays.

He says that being on the periphery of the first team and not making regular starts undermined his confidence in a Blues shirt.

But with Blues bosses Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley closely monitoring his progress, Elliott hopes to feature prominently in Chester’s run-in.

“I’ve loved being here at Alfreton - the fans, players and managers have been great with me,” he added.

“It’s not the case that I was cast off by Chester and pushed out of the door. I needed to play regularly to regain my match fitness and most importantly my confidence, which is a huge part of my game.

“Those confidence levels weren’t where they needed to be, but I feel like this loan deal has been mutually beneficial.

“It’s nice that the managers have been keeping tabs on me and hopefully I can play a big part in Chester’s end to the season.

“I know the Chester fans haven’t seen the best of me yet, but hopefully I can put that right when I come back.”

George Waring remains sidelined for Chester while centre-back Danny Livesey is rated as ‘fifty-fifty’ to start at Alfreton.