Frannie Collin glad to be back in midfield when Hythe Town meet Chorley in the FA Trophy fourth round

Frannie Collin is looking forward to being back in midfield when Hythe meet Chorley in the last 32 of the FA Trophy.

Collin, 36, rolled back the years by playing up front in the last round as Steve Watt’s side upset Whitehawk 3-2 at Reachfields.

He sits in the middle of the park these days but did a job up front with top scorer Johan Caney-Bryan suspended.

There’s no such problem in round four tomorrow (3pm) which means Collin will revert to his deeper role against the Cannons’ National League North visitors.

“To be honest, I’d forgotten how hard it is up there, how much running’s involved,” said Collin, a Conference South golden boot winner in his Tonbridge days.

“Thankfully, Johan is fit and suspension-free and I don’t have to do it again.

“With lads like Ethan Smith, Jake Embery and Bradley Schafer, they’re full of legs, full of energy, so all Watty said was stay the width of the goal and we’ll get legs and runners around you. It just seemed to work on the night.

“The game’s changed now. I used to play in a two most of the time but everyone seems to play a single striker these days.

“I don’t envy the boys who do it because it’s hard work in today’s game.”

Hythe have already beaten three higher-division teams - Concord, Tonbridge and Whitehawk - to reach this stage.

Chorley, being so far away, are something of an unknown quantity although Watt has been able to watch videos of them.

Hythe had never been past the first round before this season.

Collin said: “We’re beating our own record each game now.

“We’re in the last 32 now which is crazy when you think of all the clubs in non-league down to our level.

“To get to the last 32 is a huge achievement.

“It’s a far old journey for Chorley.

“I’m not sure how they’ll feel