In-form striker Dan Marney today insisted Crawley fans have yet to see the best of him.

The 23-year-old forward has scored in each of the last two games and is looking to continue his hot streak against Gravesend and Northfleet at the Broadfield Stadium on Boxing Day.

Manager Francis Vines believes Marney has rediscovered the kind of form which saw him become an instant hit with Reds supporters when he joined from Albion last season.

Vines said: "It's good to see Danny is looking back to his old self again. He is working very hard and hopefully he will be able to keep it up."

But Marney, who has scored four goals this season, reckons he can get even better and is planning to prove it by hitting the net more often.

He said: "Things have started to click for me and I'm feeling like my old self again. You can never put your finger on why you are playing well, it is a combination of things which come together.

"I have got that now, although I am confident that I can get better. I have only got two goals on the spin, which I believe I can improve on.

"I have not set myself any goalscoring targets, just to get as many as I can and hopefully there will be a few more to come."

Marney blames his slow start to the season on having to adjust to life as a part-time footballer after five years in the full-time game.

He was forced to find a day job as a private health insurance advisor after being released by Albion last April.

Other former professionals have also suffered at Crawley. Charlie Mapes, who joined from Wycombe in the summer, has found himself on the bench after suffering a loss of form, while Neil Jenkins has only just begun to show why he was a regular for Southend last season.

Marney said: "I have had a lot of things change in my life and it takes time to adjust.

"People like Charlie Mapes have experienced it as well. It is hard not training full-time and having to work as well as play but I am getting used to it now so hopefully I can carry on playing well."

Crawley have dropped to eighth place in the Conference following two defeats in three games and Marney insists they need maximum points over the Christmas period to maintain their play-off hopes.

Reds travel to relegation-threatened Forest Green Rovers on December 28, before meeting Gravesend again on New Year's Day.

Marney said: "You have to say that we should get nine points from the three games. They are all winnable and we need to make sure we make no mistakes to keep in touch with the teams in the play-off positions."

Vines has warned his side they face a physical battle against 15th placed Gravesend. The Kent side are desperate for a win having gone 11 league games without one.

Vines said: "We have had them watched and they are a very big and strong side. We will need to be able to look after ourselves, which we have improved on.

"Earlier this season, it was like men against boys, whereas now we can stand up to big teams, but we have to make sure we don't forget about trying to play football at the same time."

Vines has confirmed defender Joe Dolan's loan deal from Millwall has been extended for a third month.

Sean Hankin will return to left-back at the expense of Ryan Palmer having recovered from flu.

Striker Charlie MacDonald is in contention for a starting place having returned from an eight-week injury absence.