SEAN O'Driscoll has identified the change in prolific striker James Hayter this season - he keeps playing him up front.

Hayter goes into tomorrow's home League One fixture with Barnsley in a rich vein of form after his two goals against Cardiff on Tuesday saw him become the leading goalscorer in English domestic competitions this season.

His Carling Cup brace moved him on to 13 for the season with eight goals in his last eight games and four strikes in his last two.

Boss O'Driscoll, however, believes there is no great science in the Isle of Wight-born marksman standing just one short of his entire season's haul for last term.

He said: "He has played up front - that is the biggest difference.

"In previous seasons he has filled in wide right, wide left and in central midfield because we know with our small squad, we need to be flexible. But we have made a conscious effort to keep him up front this season."

The 25-year-old, whose record-breaking 140-second hat-trick against Wrexham catapulted him to national and international recognition last season, is the type of player that is happy to fill in regardless of the position he is asked to play.

The Cherries boss said: "I know I can trust him to play in a variety of positions. He is an intelligent player and even defending corners you know he'll know where to go and you can leave it up to him.

"But since I have known him, he has always been a top goalscorer going back to the under-16s and the youth team.

"He has missed a few chances as well so far this season but you have to be in a position to miss them and thankfully he has scored a few as well."

Asked if he thought the club may be fending off clubs from higher divisions for the striker's services in the near future, O'Driscoll replied: "I don't know. People see different things in different players.

"He is not 6ft 4in and he's not powerfully built but he is a very good finisher."