Ebbsfleet's Darren McQueen isn't keen on losing the striker label and replacing it with supersub - just yet!

The 27-year-old has netted three goals after coming off the bench and playing as a right wing-back this season, the latest sealing a 3-1 win over Bath last Saturday.

Even manager Dennis Kutrieb stated he's no longer a striker after the match, but McQueen can't say it at the moment.

"I'm not agreeing," smiled McQueen. "The thing is I always like to score goals and my previous time here I played as a striker.

"I understand what he's saying because with my pace and my ability to go one-on-one, the wing-back role does suit me, especially on the right as I can drive at people and go inside - and I'm working at going outside people as well.

"I can create a lot more for the team and myself. I'm not complaining about it, it's just the defensive side which is where I need to concentrate as I've not defended like that before.

"At Dartford I played as part of a narrow front three, at Dagenham I was a front two when I did play and at Dulwich it was 3-4-3 so I was a wide striker.

"This season it's a completely different role, you have to get forward and you have to get back and defend. In other teams I've played for, I probably didn't have to defend as much in those positions.

"I like to work hard, I'd never say I don't want to run back. It might be mentally hard but I want to do it for the team as I want the team to win and be successful."

And as for the supersub prefix, McQueen knows his time - like everyone else in the Fleet squad - will come.

"I don't like the name but that's what is happening so far!" he said. "To be fair, if I'm getting on the pitch and helping the team hopefully my time will come.

"There's a lot of players here. There's people out of the squad that would probably start in any team in this league. It's very competitive, but it always keeps you on your toes.

"You can't have bad days in the squad because everyone wants to play, no-one wants to be on the bench, no-one wants to be out of the squad.

"Everyone's time will come, there's a lot of rotation so when you're on the pitch and you get your chance you have to make sure you take it."

McQueen's working hard in his new position and is playing with a smile. Knowing the Fleet's emphasis on forward-thinking football, he always felt it would suit his game.

"When I came in and had a meeting with the gaffer he said that would be my position," stated McQueen.

"But the reason why it didn't really affect me is because playing against Ebbsfleet last season I saw the wing-backs, Jack Paxman and Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, were attacking so much.

"I know they had to defend but most of the time I saw them they were going towards our goal so I thought I could still get a lot of chances and really utilise my pace a bit more.

"That also helps me because I'm used to scoring goals. Coming inside I can get my shot off, my natural instinct is to go for goal. As soon as I come inside I can try and get a shot off or play someone in, but my first thought is to try and score so that helps me and the team."

It's that attacking instinct Kutrieb has been keen to work on, as well.

McQueen's stunning strike against Bath was a direct result of the work he's been doing with the boss.

"Since I've been back that's been the only one that's working," joked McQueen, when reflecting on scoring three almost-identical goals.

"The gaffer has been working with me on taking the extra touch when I come inside to open up more space. I've been trying to take it on board and that one against Bath, I took everything he said into account and that opened up the space for me to get my shot in.

"That was the best of the three because it went in the top corner, that's my favourite so far. It's the best feeling as a striker to find the top corner or score via the post. I try and aim for the corners as the keeper has less chance for me and it's working."

It's already the best-ever start to a league season for the Fleet - and they put their 100% National League South record on the line this Saturday at second-placed Havant, who have only dropped two points.

"It's the big one, obviously, as they are on our heels," said McQueen.

"We need to put in the same kind of performances that we have done, there's a lot of resilience in this team.

"It's going to be a very tough game but we've got the mindset and quality. If we work hard first then our quality will shine through as it has done so far.

"It's still very early, we're not getting carried away and thinking too far into the future. We'll just take each game as it comes and the next one is Havant, which is a big one."