JAKE BICKERSTAFF is hoping to get another chance to show what he can do against Altrincham in the FA Trophy this evening and continue to repay the faith shown in him by manager Phil Parkinson.

The Reds’ boss rang the changes for the third round tie at home to Scunthorpe United and Bickerstaff made the most of his big chance.

Bickerstaff impressed on his first appearance of the season and scored in the 3-1 win.

Since finding the net on his senior debut against Ayr United in the Scottish Challenge Cup in September 2019, Bickerstaff made five league appearances during the 2020-21 campaign but only played once as a substitute in the Trophy last season.

The 21-year-old, set to get the nod at Moss Lane in tonight’s fourth round tie, is eager for more game-time.

“Obviously you have that hunger to play every week,” said Bickerstaff.

“I played a few games in the league under Dean Keates and I wanted to progress with that the next season but obviously it didn’t happen for many different reasons, myself included.

“But from now, I just want to take that step forward and if I am needed, then I will be there.

“The depth of the squad is unbelievable.

“Hopefully there are a few more Trophy games which I can play in so I can show what I am about.”

Bickerstaff has only had the one run-out against Scunthorpe this season but the frontman has benefitted from Wrexham entering a reserve team in the Central League.

“It has got me minutes that I normally wouldn’t have had last year,” he said.

“We are playing almost every week now and it is good to keep that match fitness; it is different from training.

“A few of the lads in the team against Scunthorpe have played with me in the reserves so that kind of helped and I felt a bit more comfortable when I came onto the pitch.”

Bickerstaff, who signed a contract extension last summer keeping him with the Reds until the end of the 2023-24 season, is enjoying his development under Parkinson.

“It is brilliant that he has got the backing of me,” he said.

“We speak quite often and he just wants the best for me; he wants me to enjoy my football and he wants me to reach the potential that I can reach. He has been really helpful to learn from.”

Bickerstaff, an unused substitute when Wrexham beat Championship outfit Coventry City 4-3 to spring a huge FA Cup third round upset on Saturday, is behind Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Sam Dalby in the pecking order.

But with three quality strikers to learn from, there's no reason for Bickerstaff to complain.

“I am learning from the three best strikers in the league,” he added.

“Ollie, Mulls and Sam are incredible finishers and three different types of player so if I can take a little bit from each of them to my game, I will be in good stead.”