Newark Town manager Luke Parsons praises Ryan Rushen for hat-trick in 3-1 win over Sleaford in United Counties League Premier Division North

Ryan Rushen highlighted his importance to Newark Town’s play-off bid by scoring a hat-trick against his old club.

Rushen’s treble earned a 3-1 victory over Sleaford as Town maintained sixth place in United Counties League Premier Division North.

He’s been a vital player all season, even more so in recent weeks, with top scorer Ryan Smith and Lewis Chambers both sidelined.

The forward got his rewards at the weekend.

“They were all quite similar goals, pretty much one-on-one with the keeper, with the whole goal to aim for, and he’s slotted them home,” said manager Luke Parsons.

“His work rate over the season brings him luck and I feel that sometimes you earn a bit of luck.

“Certainly for the first one he was a bit lucky how he took the ball with him and slotted it home.

“Fair play to him. He’s been carrying the candle up front for the last few weeks since Ryan Smith’s been injured and not having Chambo available every game makes it difficult as well, so there’s been a lot of pressure on Rushy.

“We chose last week (2-1 League Cup win at Skegness) to give a few lads some minutes and put Rushy on the bench but he was called upon and changed the game. He’s taken that confidence into this week, with the added spice of playing his former team, and put a hat-trick away.

“It probably wasn’t his best performance leading the line in terms of how he presses and sets the tempo for us from the front, but he’s probably had one of his most clinical games.

“I think he’s on 17 goals and he’s probably got just about the same amount of assists.

“I know strikers get judged on goals but I’m sure he’s on 17 assists as well, which just shows how important he is to the team. We don’t just judge strikers on goals here.

“Ryan Smith’s our top scorer but Rushy puts goals on a plate for others, whether that’s working hard and winning the ball back high and laying it off, or by passing it.

“He’s a great player, a great lad to have in the dressing room and I don’t think there are many better pressing forwards, if you want to play that style, than Ryan. He’s massively important for us.”

Rushen missed some games at the end of last year, while it’s been Smith and Chambers on the sidelines recently.

Newark hope to have all three fit and firing for the run-in.

Parsons said: “There was a spell during the Christmas period when we didn’t have Rushy very often, through a couple of hamstring strains and just general stuff of being away and working.

“We missed him and that meant Ryan Smith had to carry the burden himself and that’s probably what took its toll and led to his injury, where he was playing too much.

“Hopefully he’s on the comeback trail now and could potentially be involved in the next couple of weeks, so he’ll certainly take the burden of Ryan Rushen, and we’ve got Chamo back firing as well, so we’re starting to get players back at the top end of the pitch which is important for us.

“It’s great timing. We’ve got eight league games to go and hopefully we can stay injury-free for that period and it just gives us the best opportunity to see how high we can finish. Ask any manager, you want your best players available and then what will be will be.”

Newark are set to take advantage of a weekend off by holding a team social. They return to action at Skegness on Wednesday (7.45pm), less than a fortnight on from their League Cup success.

“It’s a long way to go on a Wednesday night but they came to our place midweek,” said Parsons.