AKIL Wright knows he is playing for his footballing future as he bids to bring glory to Holker Street.

The 20-year-old midfielder extended his loan with Barrow AFC until the end of the season last week – realising he has to impress.

Wright's contract with League One Fleetwood Town runs out at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, and the former Ilkeston FC man is determined to do enough to earn a new deal.

For that to happen, he wants to help the Bluebirds to the National League title, earn a settled spot in the heart of midfield and show his true ability after a stop-start beginning to life with Paul Cox's men.

“I'm definitely playing to earn a new deal,” said Wright. “It has obviously been tough for me at Fleetwood with not playing, but hopefully this will give me a chance to impress the gaffer there and get a new deal for next season.”

Wright's start against Southport in the 1-0 National League defeat on Tuesday was only his ninth in all competitions since arriving at AFC in October, with five substitute appearances scattered in among that number.

Cox admitted he had probably angered the youngster when he brought Dan Rowe in on loan from Wycombe Wanderers last week and immediately handed him a start at the Fleetwood man's expense.

Wright admits it has been frustrating not featuring more often, but is hopeful he will put that right over the next three-and-a-half months – starting against Matlock Town in the FA Trophy tomorrow (3pm kick-off) – having been given a confidence boost by Cox's decision to keep him for the remainder of the campaign.

“I want to get a lot of game-time under my belt, and hopefully by the end of it there can be promotion for Barrow, or if not them the play-offs,” said Wright, who scored twice in Barrow's last FA Trophy match-up – the 4-2 second-round replay win against Harrogate in December.

“I've been enjoying it, even though I have been battling to get into the team. It has been tough for me, and now I'm just hoping over the next couple of weeks to cement my place and to be playing week-in, week-out.

“Paul told me he wants me to play more, and that did give me more confidence. Tuesday wasn't the best result for us, but just to be playing was really good.”

The aim now is for Barrow to bounce back from a run of three successive defeats – Tuesday's loss to Southport having followed reversals against Rochdale in the FA Cup and Gateshead in the National League on New Year's Eve.

Wright is positive that can happen – and sooner rather than later – saying the quality in the Barrow squad should ensure a quick turnaround.

“We have definitely have it within us to snap this run,” said the former AFC Fylde loan man. “There's a lot of quality in our team and things will definitely change over the next couple of games coming. We have the quality.”

Tomorrow is set to be another tough match for Barrow against a lower-league side, with Wright having played against Harrogate in the Trophy and watched the two FA Cup ties with Taunton in the FA Cup from the bench.

Matlock ply their trade in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, two levels below AFC, and the Barrow loanee sees games such as these as a valuable education in his young footballing career.

“It's really different,” he said of his experiences playing for Barrow. “It's quite difficult, because it is physical and that's something that I really need more of in my game as a player.

“Hopefully over the next couple of months it will improve me as a player and a person.”