JOINT top-scorer Jordan Burrow is hungry for a hat-trick after being denied the chance of a second career treble last weekend by York City boss Sam Collins.

Burrow struck twice in six second-half minutes during the 3-0 FA Cup third qualifying round victory over St Ives Town, but was replaced immediately after his second effort with Collins keen to rest his four-goal forward, while giving game time to subs Alex Kempster and Jon Parkin.

That meant the 26-year-old forward missed out on adding to his three-goal haul for Gateshead during a 3-3 FA Trophy draw with Boreham Wood last term - when he completed his hat-trick in 15 second-half minutes after coming on as a substitute himself.

Collins joked that Burrow gave him a “dirty look” after the fourth official had held up his number and the Sheffield-born attacker said: “He was laughing a bit with me and I wanted to stay on because I’d just scored two goals in six minutes and I was full of confidence looking to get my hat-trick.

“That would have been nice, because it would have been my first one for York, but that will have to wait and, hopefully, it will come sooner rather than later.

“I’ve scored one before and, hopefully, I can get a few more.”

Burrow’s brace moved him level with Macaulay Langstaff at the head of the Minstermen’s scoring charts.

His previous best tally in a campaign was 18 for Halifax despite the Shaymen’s relegation from the Conference in 2015/16.

But the 6ft 1in striker insisted he is not chasing any personal targets this term or setting his designs on the club’s golden boot, adding: “I was really pleased with my two goals against St Ives and that’s four in four for myself – all at home – so I’m in a good vein of form at the moment and long may it continue.

“I’ve tended to get double figures wherever I’ve been.

“I got 14 last season for Gateshead and my best was 18 in all competitions at Halifax, but I’m not really looking at beating that total at moment.

“I’m not looking at the bigger picture – just the next game.

“There’s a long way to go in the season and who’s going to be top scorer isn’t in anybody’s head.

“We’re all contributing to the team and that’s the main thing, because having four strikers who are all scoring can only be a good thing.”

Burrow also heads the club’s assists table this term with five - two more than any other team-mate.

The goals he has teed up for Langstaff and Wright, meanwhile, during the last two weekends have been courtesy of his willingness to compete for long balls - an aspect of the game that Burrow still feels is significant despite Collins’ preference for possession football.

“I’m happy with the assists,” Burrow confessed.

“It was a good run by Wrighty (for the goal against St Ives) and he could have got in a few more times if he’d stayed onside in the first half.

“It’s all about mixing the game up sometimes.

“Passing the ball around a lot can be quite predictable and teams can read what you’re doing.

“If we go long as well, it’s not a long punt, it’s a long pass and the lads are playing the ball into me, not just hoofing it clear.

“If it needs to be done, we will do it and get up the pitch more quickly.”

Burrow is now expecting an aerial challenge this weekend at second-bottom hosts Southport, who are renowned for their physical power.

On the test ahead, he revealed: “I know a bit about them, because I played with their keeper (Dan Hanford) last season at Gateshead.

“From the reports and clips I’ve seen, I think they’re quite direct and physical and like to play for second balls and get up the pitch too.

“As ever, we’ll be well drilled on their strengths and weaknesses by Sam and Parns (assistant-manager Stuart Parnaby) and we’ll have to be on our mettle if they are direct and make sure we’re ready for that.”

Following a below-par performance on their last road trip - the 2-2 draw at Southport’s fellow strugglers Nuneaton - Burrow is also conscious of the need to pick up the club’s away form.

The Minstermen have only won one of the last 13 fixtures on their travels - August’s 2-0 triumph at Ashton United.

In contrast, on their own soil, four of the last five matches have ended in victory and Burrow declared: “We were a bit disappointed to only pick up a point at Nuneaton and not really play well and we’ve got to take our home form into the away games.”

Burrow also hopes the team can build on their FA Cup third qualifying round triumph, while brushing up on some areas of the game that might have been better.

“First and foremost, it was generally a professional performance,” he reasoned.

“The gaffer wanted that and that’s what he got.

“It didn’t look like we’d lose at any point and we got a nice, early goal to settle us down.

“We gave a few needless free kicks away and that got their tails up a bit, because they caused us a few problems from wide deliveries, so that’s something we’ll have to look at.

“But we then controlled the game, especially in the second half.

“We also had chances to put the game to bed in the first half, before the second goal eventually relaxed us and we got playing.”