Gavin Gunning said that the in-form Paul Glatzel is playing at a level that will certainly be attracting interest from other clubs.

Glatzel has netted in all of his last four games and has six goals since his January arrival from Liverpool as he has quickly established himself as an integral part of the Town squad.

The former German youth international has a deal which runs until the end of this season, but with Town possessing an option to extend that for a further year.

Gunning said that given that Glatzel’s goal tally could look even healthier had he not had the patch of tough luck in front of goal towards the start of his Town stint then it could have been an even more difficult task to keep hold of him.

He said: “I think that [the one-year optional contract extension] will be taken, what do you reckon? I am not sure, but I think that it might be taken.

“I think it is going to be tough [to keep hold of him], thankfully he didn’t score all of those goals when he had them cleared off the line or we would be talking about having no chance [of keeping him].

“It is great that we have got him and great business for the club, he is an asset, which we have a few of now and that is good.

“Where Paul has been, he has been an eight out of ten constantly.”

Glatzel and his strike partner against Barrow AFC, Aaron Drinan, have netted eight goals between them in Town’s last six matches and Gunning said you only had to look at the players they were keeping out of the team to see how well they were playing.

Harry McKirdy and Charlie Austin were both reduced to just substitute appearances at the SO Legal Stadium and Gunning believes that is a positive sign.

He said: “When you are lacking in one position, and you have too many strikers then you try and get them all on the pitch and that is probably what I have been trying to do unfortunately.

“We have two lads on the bench in McKirdy and Austin who are unbelievable players, but the two boys who played today did fantastically well.

“It is great competition and whenever you have people of the quality of Harry McKirdy and Charlie Austin on your bench then it can only be a good thing.”