CONOR Townsend says a breakthrough season on loan at Grimsby Town has whetted his appetite for regular first-team football with Hull City.

But with fierce competition for the Tigers’ left-back role, the home-grown 19-year-old accepts he could be forced to seek another loan spell to promote his long-term ambitions.

Townsend enjoyed a hugely successful stint with Conference side Grimsby last year and, in the process, earned himself a new and improved two-year deal with the Tigers this summer.

A return to the City fold has seen Townsend impressing new boss Steve Bruce during pre-season and the defender did his chances of future selection no harm during a 90-minute run-out in the 5-0 win at Winterton Rangers.

Andy Dawson and Joe Dudgeon provide obstacles for Townsend to overcome, however, and the pragmatic rookie knows another rewarding loan could provide the fillip he needs.

“With the loan last year and the new gaffer coming in, I came back for pre-season just wanting to do my best and impress,” Townsend told the Mail.

“Obviously I’ve got both Daws and Dudge ahead of me, who are both very good left-backs, so I’m just looking to work hard and see where it takes me.

“If I’m not getting a look-in then obviously I’ll have to think about a loan for more experience again, but for now I’m just concentrating on a good pre-season.

“It would depend on a lot of things like injuries if I was to get a chance but my only focus is on getting as fit as I can to impress the gaffer.”

Townsend, a former pupil of Hessle High School, has been on City’s books since the age of eight and helps form an exciting crop of youngsters attempting to catch Bruce’s eye during pre-season.

Centre-half Sonny Bradley and right-back Danny East also played the full 90 minutes against Winterton, making the most of injuries to first-team regulars Jack Hobbs, Liam Rosenior and Dawson.

Shadowing the familiar figure of Dawson has been a pleasure, according to Townsend, and he hopes the learning curve will continue throughout this season.

“Daws has been the left-back for all my time here pretty much,” said Townsend.

“Daws has achieved so much in the game, you’ve got to look up to him. He’s a great role model with the way he conducts himself.

“There’s Dudge as well, who’s a great left-back too, so it’s great to learn from them. It can only help me in the long-run.”

Townsend will hope to continue his pre-season action when City head back over the Humber to visit Grimsby tomorrow night.

The rookie played 31 games for the Mariners last season, scooping the club’s Young Player of the Season award.

He added: “Hopefully I can be involved again. It would be nice to go back to Grimsby after my time there, but it’s all about getting our fitness up for now.

“I learned a lot of things last season, it was a big help. More than anything it was learning how to deal with the pressure of playing first-team football.”