Former Reading, Coventry and Bristol Rovers appears to have turned a corner for National League King's Lynn

In his darkest moments Joshua Barrett admitted he wasn't sure he'd ever play football again – but try telling him that now after his two goals propelled King's Lynn Town to their first home win of the season.

The playmaker's spell at Bristol Rovers has been nothing short of frustrating, with injuries and fitness preventing him from making an impact at the Memorial Ground.

But the 23-year-old midfielder, who once graced the Championship for Reading, appears to have turned a corner in his long-term battle to regain full fitness.

"I was 95 per cent certain that I'd never play football ever again when I left Bristol Rovers if I'm honest," said Barrett.

"I kind of fell out of love with the game but days like today bring it back and I'm absolutely buzzing."

His two goals against Dover Athletic and his range of passing were worth the admission money alone as the Linnets stopped a run of eight successive defeats in the National League.

"Those bits of quality are key and that's why I'm here," he said.

"I'm gradually getting fitter every game. I've been frustrated that I hadn't done enough going forward and that's a big part of my game."

Both of Barrett's strikes had Championship quality all over them.

The first was a delightful clip over the goalkeeper from the acutest of angles and his second a long-range howitzer which had the home faithful off their seats.

"I gave the ball away for their goal so I was fuming and I knew I had to make up for it," he said.

And make up for it he did with his second strike a clear contender for goal of the season.

King's Lynn's new boss Tommy Widdrington, who worked with Barrett at both Coventry City and Bristol Rovers knows what Lynn's new hero is all about.

“The guy is a talent,” said Widdrington.

“I have been connected with Josh indirectly for five or six years. I recruited him into Coventry City and I recruited him on to a permanent at Bristol Rovers.

"I preached as a recruiter and a director of football to the development managers that this kid is a proper talent. But, and there is a but, he is not so good at certain things.

“If you give him the licence and a bit of freedom, you have also got to demand things that he is not comfortable with. It’s like anything, he has to be comfortable at being uncomfortable with the things he doesn’t like doing.

“It will take a while – everyone will look at him and see he is overweight, he’s this, that and the other... he is a talented kid.

“But listen, he isn’t going to get any favours or grace off of me. He didn’t ask to come off, I took him off because he’d done his bit.”

Barrett quite rightly got the plaudits from his boss but the midfielder - and his team-mates - will need to keep setting the bar high in the week's ahead.

"You won't see anyone give as much as me on a bench, whether I'm jumping about or calm and the people in front of me will be giving as much as me," said the Lynn boss.

"If they don't then they won't be in front of me."