Midfielder Macauley Murray has been praised by Deal manager Steve King.

Vice-captain Murray set up Billy Munday for the opening goal in the title-chasing Hoops’ Southern Counties East Premier Division 2-0 victory at basement boys Welling Town on Saturday before he sealed the points with a free-kick.

Murray was sidelined for most of the first half of Deal’s campaign but seems to be back to his best now.

“Macca has been outstanding since he came back from injury,” King said.

“It’s hard for a player but, when you miss a large proportion of a season, like Macca did with his thigh injury, you’re almost a bit fresher when other players are starting to tire a little bit.

“Since he’s come in, he’s really given us an impetus. I thought he was man-of-the-match in the Vase game against Cobham (a 2-0 win) - he didn’t get given it - but he was probably my man-of-the-match.

“I thought he was excellent on Saturday. He was our best player again.

Deal man makes team-of-the-week

“So, I’m really pleased.”

The win at Welling Town also saw King’s side keep a fourth straight clean sheet.

But the boss felt it was a harder game than perhaps some expected, stating: “I think people have to be careful when they’re talking about the bottom of SCEFL this year.

“There are so many sides - six sides down there - and it’s not like some years where you get one or two teams cut adrift. So, it’s not like the team who is going to come bottom is going to win something like two games all season.

“The bottom six on their day are more than capable of getting results.

“People said ‘(you have) bottom of the table’ as if it was going to be routine - but any away game is difficult.

“I was really pleased with another clean sheet. That’s four on the bounce.

“I’m pleased that we were nice and professional, and delighted with the three points.”

But they were dealt an injury blow to midfielder Jack Hanson.

King explained: “Jack Hanson picked up a bad knee injury.

“We don’t know yet - but I would imagine (he will be out) for the foreseeable future, based on our initial findings.

“Other than that, we are all good.”

Their Welling Town triumph came after Deal cruised to a 5-0 Challenge Cup Quarter-Final victory at Kennington last Tuesday.

“It was a strange one because it’s usually very tough at Kennington,” noted King, due to host promotion rivals Faversham tonight.

“But on that evening, it ended up being very comfortable. They’re a side I have got a lot of respect for.

“But we changed our frontline and the boys came in with a lot of energy and a point to prove.

“We were 2-0 up in six minutes, 3-0 up in 15 minutes and, after that, it was a bit of a non-event. It ended up being the perfect evening for us. We didn’t pick up any injuries, we had no bookings, got people minutes that they needed, and we progressed as well.

“I certainly don’t expect the league game to be as straightforward in a few weeks’ time.”

Hat-trick hero Wes Hennessey led the way while defender Alfie Foster and big striker Connor Coyne also converted at Homelands.

But young midfielder Hennessey’s treble was not enough for him to keep his starting berth in the Hoops’ line-up at Welling Town.

King said: “I felt sorry for him in a way because he’s been outstanding for us.

“But we speak all the time and there’s boys ahead of him like Ashley Miller, who has been brilliant since he’s come in. Rory Smith and Aaron Millbank would probably get in most sides in the league above, and they have been in great form.

“Tom Chapman has been outstanding, as well, so for Wes, he knows he’s going to be a big impact player for us. We know what he can do when he starts.

“I was delighted to see him get a hat-trick. He deserved it and that depth of squad is going to be crucial.

“With so many games coming up, I’m sure that he will play a big part.”

Red-hot Deal, still competing on three fronts and with a massive last-16 FA Vase tie on the horizon, will host Tunbridge Wells this Saturday.

Speaking on Monday, King said: “I’m delighted we have moved the football club into a place where every week is a big week.

“I would be lying to you if I said tomorrow didn’t have a little bit of extra spice on it in terms of being an even bigger game. But it’s just another game.

“Our season isn’t going to be defined by it. If we win the game, we’re another step closer and, if we lose the game, while it will be disappointing, we can still reach our targets.

“Next week, we will be talking about an FA Vase last-16 game and the following week we are going to be talking about a Semi-Final and then Glebe at home.

“I think we have got used to it in terms of playing in big games.”

The Hoops will face either Holmesdale or Erith Town in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals, played over two legs.