WAYNE Hatswell believes his switch to left back has helped him get back to basics and emerge from a rut.

It was feared Stuart Watkiss's decision to play the out-of-form skipper out of position would cause more problems for the Harriers back four.

But Hatswell insists the change of role has taken him out of the firing line of central defence and is benefiting his overall game.

He said: "The gaffer has put me at left back and in a sense it has taken a little bit of pressure off me and allowed me to get a bit of confidence back.

"Left back was my position at Oxford and that was in the league higher so I am used to playing there.

"But I still feel I'm a better centre half than left back.

"Having said that the gaffer's asked me to do a job and I think I'm gradually getting parts of my game back.

"My heading is getting better again and my fitness has improved a lot because you do a lot more running at left back."

Hatswell is enjoying having the scope to get forward and even claimed an assist with a peach of a cross which brought Chris Beardsley's goal at Rochdale.

"I'd like to think that although I'm not the best on the ball, I'm half tidy and I'm helping Macca (John McGrath) out down the left.

"I'm just trying to back him up and get the ball in the box when we're attacking. Defensively, I don't think many teams have threatened down our left side lately."

Hatswell has showed strength of character to bounce back from his lowest point of the season at Shrewsbury.

"I pride myself on my record for stopping my men scoring at setpieces and other than Steve Torpey for Scunthorpe nobody had done it until the Shrewsbury game.

"My man (Darren Moss) scored twice from corners and that got them into the game which was devastating because we were 2-0 up and that game could have been a turning point.

"I was inconsolable after that game and it really was the worst point of a pretty bad season. I didn't want to play in the next match but fortunately it came around quickly and I felt I improved.

"After that I thought I had a very good game at Rochdale and I did okay against Cheltenham on Saturday so hopefully things will start to pick up for me from now on.

"We've put a little bit of a run together which is the best one we've had all season and I'm just hoping that it has happened at the right time to drag ourselves out of trouble."

Hatswell admits living in the town has helped him appreciate the feelings of the Aggborough faithful and says the majority of supporters have been good to him.

"When you live locally you do get a flavour of what's going on and it's natural that you listen to supporters and pick up the paper to find out what is being said," he said.

"I think because I've not been winning man of the match awards week in week out like last season people have started asking "What's up with Hatswell?" which has put me under more pressure, but most of the fans have been very patient with me."