 | I'm ambitious - I'd love to play at the highest level |
Grays Athletic striker Aaron McLean has been described as the hottest property in the Conference. This is perhaps because a whole host of clubs have shown an interest in signing him.
Wolves assistant manager Ian Evans has recently been spotted watching him, while Nottingham Forest have also been linked with the 23-year-old.
Grays reportedly turned down numerous offers over the summer, including a bid from Wrexham in late August.
It is easy to see why he is attracting attention.
Since joining from Aldershot in August 2005 he has scored 23 goals in 45 starts and has found the net 13 times in 17 appearances this season to sit joint top of the Conference scoring table.
McLean is well aware of the fact that his goalscoring exploits are attracting attention.
"I'm ambitious," McLean told BBC Sport. "I'd love to play at the highest level, in the Premiership.
| I think there is a lot more to come from me |
"At the moment I'm at Grays and I'm hoping bigger clubs will see the improvement I have made and take a chance on me.
"Hopefully I'll get that chance to play in the Premiership or the Championship - as high as I can go."
McLean is enjoying the best start to a season in his professional career and believes that he is starting to mature both as a person and a footballer.
"I have not been this consistent before and I think I am learning from my mistakes," added the Londoner.
"I think there is a lot more to come. It is always nice to have people speak highly of you but you cannot let it go to your head or be satisfied with where you are."
| CONFERENCE TOP SCORERS 13: Charlie MacDonald, Gravesend 13: Aaron McLean, Grays 11: Paul Benson, Dag & Red 11: Robert Duffy, Oxford |
McLean stands just 5 ft 8 in but is strong for his size and has an excellent spring that allows him to compete in the air with defenders much taller than him.
"I watch different players," said McLean. "I like to analyse different strikers and learn from them. I try to take bits from different people and put them into my own game.
"Being quite a small striker I watch players like Jermain Defoe and Kevin Phillips, as well as people like Tim Cahill. He is not very tall but good in the air."
But while he remains at Grays he is determined to retain his focus and keep scoring.
"I give 100% in every game that I play," said McLean.
"And for as long as I am a Conference player I want to score as many as possible and keep the goals going in for Grays."
Just how long it is before McLean is playing at a higher level remains to be seen.
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