Fleetwood striker’s self-starter pledge

Proctor scored the only goal at Barnsley as Town hauled themselves out of the League One drop zone.

And the 23-year-old is ready to take responsibilty for leading the Fleetwood line - the task he’s been handed by new boss Steven Pressley.

“It’s been the case for a long time that if I’m given that push you get the best out of me,” said the Preston-born forward

“It’s time for me now to not accept that and get it out of myself.

“I’ve been told by many coaches what I can do, what I can bring to the team.

“I think it’s time now that I stepped up and did it without being told.”

Proctor was on the wrong end of a blast from Pressley following Town’s midweek defeat at Sheffield United.

But he insists the manager’s frank approach to dealing with players is just what is needed.

Proctor explained: “The honesty from the gaffer is something I love and all the lads in that changing room will tell you the same.

“It’s a mutual respect.

“The honesty is there and he’ll tell you if you’ve played well, he’ll tell you if you’ve not.

“I’m one of those players who knows if they’ve had a bad game.

“Sheffield United was one of them.

“He stuck with me on Saturday and hopefully I’ve rewarded him for that.”

Indeed Proctor would rather have the passion and straight talking of the former Scotland international than not know where he stands.

He insists not all managers are quite as honest with their stars.

“What you see on the touchline is what we get day in, day out,” said Proctor of Pressley.

“There’s no gimmicks, there’s nothing there that’s fake, that you’re not seeing behind the scenes.

“He’ll hold no grudges, tell you when you’re wrong and right.

“You know when you’ve played well and when you haven’t.

“Some managers will tell you you’re playing well to keep you onside.

“You can kid yourself you’re in a good vein of form.

“The lads know now whether they’re doing enough to stay in the team.”

The striker has scored in each of Fleetwood’s four league victories.

But although he’d love to finish the season top scorer at Highbury, Proctor insists points on the board are more important that personal glory.

“There’s a bit of pressure,” he joked.

“It’s a nice feeling to know every time I score we win.

“Hopefully those feelings can stay with us.

“Every team needs a goalscorer and I want to be getting the goals myself.

“But honestly as long as everyone’s chipping in, as long as we’re getting points on the board, that’s what’s important for me.”

Town’s victory at Barnsley was the first League win this term in which Fleetwood haven’t scored four.

And Proctor believes it’s a far more significant moment in the course of the campaign than the 4-0 thrashing of Burton the week before.

He explained how the dressing room atmosphere had been very different at Oakwell

Proctor said: “The feeling in there was that we were all buzzing, all feeling relieved, like we’d achieved something.

“If you come away from a three or four goal win you don’t really get that.

“I think Saturday taught us a few thing, how to dig in and grind out the results we need.

“It’s going to be like that most weeks.

“I think Saturday means a lot more than the 4-0 against Burton.”