TONY Bird hailed his settling in Worcestershire as key to his improved displays and then called on Harriers to show more consistency and mental strength.

The 26-year-old Welshman scored twice in a great display on the right-hand side against Preston and admitted he was getting more chances to score from his midfield position.

But Bird, who now lives in Worcester with fiancee Kate after moving from Cardiff, stressed Harriers must take the right attitude into Saturday's game with Torquay United to get the points.

He admitted: "I had a lot of things on my mind last year. It was the first time away from home, my friends and my family, and there was too much travelling back and forth.

"My fiancee has moved up here now and I haven't looked back since. They were two good goals against Preston, it was nice to get off the mark and I hope to continue scoring.

"The gaffer told us we had nothing to lose. It seems from this game and pre-season that when we play teams at a higher level, we raise our game.

"But we need more consistency in the Third Division. If we play half as well as that, we should be fine but we must take that form into the league."

Bird is a player who insists he will take any position to get into the team but if his latest performances are anything to go by, he is true to his word.

Bird has proved a fit and competitive campaigner who is strong in the air and possesses more than a few tricks on the ground.

And he added: "Drewe was a threat all night and Brocky played really well.

"We knew their manager wouldn't be happy with them at half-time but it was disappointing to lose. I think it was down to a lack of mental strength.

"I do believe we should have had a penalty at the end though (when Scott Stamps was tripped).

"Everybody is expecting us to beat Torquay now but we can't just stroll into that game thinking we are going to win it. If we show that mental strength, then we will be fine."