Whitehawk boss Darren Freeman has backed Jake Robinson to hit the goal trail soon.

The former Albion striker has yet to score in six appearances for the Hawks since joining in the summer after being released by Northampton.

But Freeman saw signs in last week’s win at home to second-placed Basingstoke that suggest the 26-year-old is getting back to the form his new manager knows he is capable of.

And the Hawks boss – who had a decent scoring record himself during his playing days with Gillingham, Fulham, Brentford and Albion – believes once Robinson nets his first the goals will flow.

Whitehawk will look to build on last week’s victory today as they visit Dean Holdsworth’s Chelmsford City side who have lost three games on the trot.

Freeman said: “Jake just needs to keep believing in himself, as we believe in him. He is working incredibly hard and he is getting himself in good positions.

“He just needs to get that one goal and then I’m sure they will flow for him.

“Last week his workrate was terrific and he was dropping into holes to get the ball. If you are not scoring, you need to be contributing elsewhere to help the team and Jake was doing that.”

Freeman is pleased with the reaction from his squad after a disappointing start to the season which saw last year’s Ryman premier champions lose four of their last five games.

The former Albion favourite questioned the attitude of some of his squad and began a shake-up of players by releasing Charlie Henry and transfer-listing summer signing Richard Rose.

But he has told his players that they have to continue to work hard to achieve results.

Freeman said: “I have had the players in for training on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday for the last two weeks and they have been brilliant, there has not been one moan.

“The response has been great but what we did in the game last Saturday we must keep doing. You can’t do it one week and not the next."