Michael Cheek is looking forward to having a different role in his second season at Braintree Town.

The 24-year-old had a great first-year with the Iron, finishing as the club’s leading scorer with 15 Vanarama National League goals against his name, and he is hoping to build on that under new Iron boss Jamie Day.

Cheek achieved his goals after being mostly employed as a lone striker by former manager Danny Cowley, however, he said Day had told him that he would set his team up in a different way.

And with experienced strikers such as Jack Midson and Lee Barnard to work alongside in his new role, the former Chelmsford City striker is looking forward to playing up front this year.

Cheek said: “From chatting to Jamie, he always wants to play two up top, which is nice to hear as a striker.

“It’s definitely more attacking for us and it will be good learning from experienced players like Lee and Jack.

“You can only applaud what they’ve done in the game and it will be great for me to work with them.

“It will be a change from the role that I had last year, but one that I’m looking forward to.”

Cheek added to his pre-season goal tally with a strike in the Iron's 3-1 win at Concord Rangers oN Wednesday and will head with the rest of the team for their final summer friendly at Bishop's Stortford tomorrow.

Together with Chez Isaac, Simeon Akinola and Joe Maybanks, Cheek is one of just four members of last year’s squad who have stayed with the club since the departure of Cowley and while the former Chelmsford City striker knows it will take time for a new team to gel, he feels Day has built a strong unit.

He added: “It felt like the first day of school turning up for pre-season with all the new faces, but I think we’ve been gelling well. I think it’s going to be alright. You can tell from the first game that it’s coming together.

“Myself and Lee (Barnard) up front have worked well together and I think the manager’s brought in the right guys. I think we should have good expectations this year and I don’t see why we shouldn’t aim for the play-offs.”