Hythe boss Sam Denly expects Football League clubs to come calling for Zak Ansah in the January transfer window.

Ansah has scored an incredible 44 times in 43 appearances this year and he's already on 24 goals for the season.

The striker joined Hythe in January and set a new club record by scoring in 10 successive matches at the end of last season.

Ansah signed a new deal in the summer and has continued scoring at the rate of a goal per game including two hat-tricks so far.

League clubs are bound to make enquiries when the window opens.

"We'll see," said Denly. "I wouldn't be surprised.

"He's contracted with us but the way he's scoring goals, I imagine there might be a few clubs looking at him.

"I'm sure it's only going to be a matter of time before bigger clubs start looking at him - if they're not already.

"You'd like to think they are and I don't think he can do much more to get noticed.

"His stats are brilliant. He's top goalscorer in the division and he's probably top in every division from us upwards.

"You'll do well to find a striker who's got more goals then him already. He's on 18 in the league and we've just gone into December.

"He's a phenomenal talent and he's having a fantastic season."

In pure financial terms, Ansah is worth thousands to Hythe.

Denly said: "That's why we get these players on contract, because you want to look after your assets.

"It's great for the club and it's great for me to have a player like that scoring goals and we want him to get on and be successful.

"I wouldn't hold him back, put it that way, if it ever came to it.

"He's one of the nicest kids I've worked with in all my years in football, playing and managing, so we want what's best for him.

"He's had approaches already and he's not interested because he wants to stay but if he keeps doing what he's doing, I'm sure an approach will come that he probably can't ignore.

"It would be great to see someone like him get another opportunity in professional football because he's a special talent and he deserves it."