MICHAEL Walker says he has no qualms reminding Poole Town boss Tom Killick of his favoured position after making his playing comeback in unfamiliar territory.

The 32-year-old defender returned from a three-game suspension to make his first competitive appearance of the season in Tuesday's stalemate at Weston-super-Mare.

With centre-halves Jamie Whisken and Will Spetch having helped to secure clean sheets against Bishop's Stortford and Maidenhead United, Walker was selected at left-back by boss Tom Killick.

And while pleased to be on the pitch for the National South clash, former Dorchester Town man Walker admits in the long term he is hankering for a return to the middle.

He told the Daily Echo: "It was nice to be back in the fold. The gaffer asked me to play left-back rather than my preferred position, which is as a left-sided centre-half.

"He felt it was a little bit unfair to split up the centre-halves up after two 1-0 wins so he asked me to do a job there.

"I had a sneaky 45 minutes at left-back at Dorchester in pre-season – maybe I should have played poorly in that game and not given him any food for thought!

"I was quite lucky to get back in with Lewis Lindsay having an injury. I didn't know that until I turned up on Tuesday night and I'm sure if he had been fit then I would have been on the bench.

"That's football. You have to take your opportunities. I was glad to be playing but obviously I want to play in my preferred position

"We're all friends off the pitch and the challenge of getting in the team doesn't come between friendships. At the moment Whisk and Will deserve to be playing and I have to wait to get back in there.

"All I can do is keep telling the gaffer it's my position."

Dolphins have made a positive start to life in National South having recorded two victories and a draw in their opening four games.

Margate are next up at Tatnam tomorrow (3pm) and Walker has underlined the importance of aiming high this season following promotion from the Southern League last term.

He added: "When people go into the league saying they just want to survive, I think that's quite negative.

"We want to try and finish in the top half but we know it's going to be a massive season all-round.

"When you give teams in this league one chance, they will take it. That's the difference at this level because clubs have got clinical finishers.

"At Poole we've always had a winning mentality and our hope has historically been to win the league and push on.

"But it's starting to get harder as we climb up the leagues. It's a challenge we're all relishing and it's a challenge every player wants to have in their career."