KYLE Haynes says he wants to make his mark on Worcester City by helping them reach the Conference North play-offs.

The 23-year-old right-back joined from Stourbridge last week and made a promising debut in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Bradford Park Avenue.

Inevitably, comparisons will be made between Haynes and George Williams, the previous mainstay on the right of defence who signed for League One Barnsley in December.

Like Williams, Haynes is happy to combine defending with supporting the attacks down the flanks.

City plumped for the former Cheltenham Town player, who made Football League appearances for the Robins under Martin Allen earlier in his career, for those reasons.

But Haynes says he is not overly concerned with the similarities.

He is more concerned with realising the team’s potential as play-off contenders, a position they are currently four points shy of.

“I know a lot of people have spoken highly about George but I didn’t really see him play,” Haynes said. “There’s no pressure like that, I don’t feel like I have to play like him, I just need to play my own game.

“The strong part of my game is bombing on. George used to like flying up and down the wings too so the fans are used to that.

“People are saying I play like him but I don’t really need to worry about that.”

He continued: “I think my first game went well and I have got a lot more to offer.

“There are certain bits of my game I need to improve on but hopefully I can be consistent until the end of the season and help them get in the play-offs.

“Nobody would have said Worcester would be up there at the start of the season but there’s a great chance for them to get in the play-offs.”

Haynes was on City’s radar in 2012 when he briefly featured in the club’s pre-season campaign although a deal never materialised. Now he is hoping to prove his worth.

He said: “I am here to play well for Worcester but I am at an age now where if I didn’t move to Worcester I never would and would be staying at the same level for the rest of my career. It was an opportunity I had to take.

“I am still young and hungry and what’s happened to George could happen to me but my main aim is to play consistently at Worcester.”

n Former City player Eddie Wilcox has died aged 87. He played 377 times between 1951 and 1960 and was part of the team that defeated Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1959.