Paul Hayes says captaincy gives him more responsibility to perform when Wycombe Wanderers are struggling

The 32-year-old opened the scoring against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night with his first goal since the Boxing Day win over Luton Town.

His first half tap in was only Wycombe’s second from open play in 2016 and Hayes has expressed the extra accountability he feels to lead from the front.

“I have to make sure as a striker and as a captain that I step up to the plate. More than anyone else I take responsibility for steering the lads on the pitch and for scoring goals,” Hayes said.

“Of course as a forward you are judged on your goals. To be fair it has been hard on me for the past few weeks because of injuries.”

Achilles problems have plagued Hayes this season, and with just four goals to his name he looks set to fall someway short of the 15 he bagged for the Blues in 2014-15.

Hayes, however, remains confident in his ability and made it clear that the injuries have had a direct effect on his form.

He explained: “Last season I only had one little injury and this year I have struggled with my Achilles since the start of the season.

“I have been trying to shrug that off a little bit and I feel that I am back to myself now. The chances have been limited the last few weeks purely because I haven’t been fit enough.”

Hayes’ goal clearly delighted Gareth Ainsworth and the Wycombe manager has been crying out for a goalscorer in recent weeks.

Garry Thompson’s three match suspension means Ainsworth has been shorn of his top scorer and the demands on Hayes will only increase in his absence.

Ainsworth is confident that the man he brought in from Scunthorpe in May 2014 has enough enduring quality to build on his strike at Victoria Road.

He said: “He has over 100 career league goals and you do not get that many if you are not a good goalscorer.

“He can score regularly, but he has suffered from his fitness a bit this season and it is important that we look at that and manage that.”