MAC the Knife says his new two-year Town contract will give him more confidence than ever.

John McAliskey has agreed terms until 2007 with McAlpine manager Peter Jackson and is keen to make himself a first-team regular.

His extended first professional contract comes just six weeks after stepping up to Town's senior side from the Academy and impressing with three goals in a strong push for promotion.

"I'm delighted with the two-year offer because it gives me extra security and the confidence to go out and play my game," said the 19-year-old from Golcar.

"It shows the manager has got faith in me and, hopefully, I will keep getting a chance in the first team and keep scoring goals.

"I'm enjoying every minute at the moment, although I don't think everything that's happened to me has really sunk in just yet."

McAliskey - who played for Golcar and Upperthong in the Gelpac Junior Sunday League - has come right through the ranks at Town.

"I first came down as a nine-year-old so it will be my testimonial next!" he joked.

"Chris Howarth has helped me a lot over the years, Gerry Murphy has been a big influence and John Dungworth has spent a lot of time working with me as well, so hopefully all their attention will pay off.

"I think the biggest thing I need to improve on is my upper body strength, and the manager is getting a programme of work together for me to go in the gym this summer."

Before then, McAliskey is aiming to play his part in helping Town secure promotion - having already made a video copy of his winning salvo against Scunthorpe which almost raised the roof at the McAlpine!

"I've watched it a few times because it was unbelievable," he said.

"It felt strange at the time charging over to the fans because I wasn't really taking in what had happened.

"I was on a high for a couple of days afterwards, but it's been great to be involved in all these big games, and especially with the results we've been getting.

"I'm confident we are going to go up automatically."