AFC Sudbury manager Mark Morsley knows his side face a huge challenge this weekend as they head to Bostik North leaders Canvey Island.

The Islanders have only lost one league game so far this season and are by far the division’s highest scorers.

However, Morsley says the pressure isn’t on his side, although with Sudbury having only lost one game in all competitions in the last 11, the King’s Marsh side travel to Essex in confident mood.

“Clearly, away to Canvey Island is a huge challenge but there is no pressure on my team – we will work hard and see where it takes us,” Morsley said.

“They are clearly a club who should be playing at a higher level and I fully expect them to win the league.

“A big budget and a crop of players who can play at a higher level shows the huge challenge we have on Saturday, but we will be up for that.”

Morsley’s return to King’s Marsh has so far seen the team remain unbeaten in the four fixtures he has managed – two draws and two wins.

On Tuesday, only a late Aveley equaliser stopped that from being three wins and one draw, but the former Needham Market boss is happy with progression in the short space of time he has been back at the helm.

“I have shipped out a number of players that were surplus to my requirements and have brought in five, as well as promoted a number of Academy scholars,” he said.

“With an outstanding crop of young players that Danny Laws has developed and nurtured it would be criminal if we didn’t look at these young players first.

“Over the remainder of the season we will put together a squad that can be the launch pad for targeting ongoing success, and that will start with working with the best of the scholars and adding new players when the time is right.

“Some of this won’t happen until the summer when targeted players are out of contract.

“Coming to a club like Sudbury with pro standard facilities will be an attractive switch for players with ambition that matches mine.”

Sudbury are up to 14th in Bostik North ahead of this weekend’s clash.

“The key initially is to get the squad to trust me and my staff so we can play the sort of football that can start getting the bigger crowds back to King’s Marsh,” the Sudbury boss added.

“We need to be brave in possession and not be frightened to play. That is not always easy as teams at our level can be physical and spoilers so we need to rise ourselves above that.”