ON-FIRE striker Matt Turner says he cannot wait to step out on Malvern Town’s new surface on Wednesday when they host Loughborough University in the Buildbase FA Vase (7.45pm).

The second-round tie will be the first game to be played on the 3G pitch at the HDanywhere Community Stadium.

Long-serving frontman Turner is in a rich vein of form having notched eight goals in his past two matches and is now looking to make his mark on the new “top-class” surface.

“I am really looking forward to stepping out on the new pitch,” Turner said.

“It looks top-class and Wednesday's game is a massive opportunity for us as a club, both in terms of making progress in the FA Vase and to be able to kick off a new and exciting period in the club’s history.

“It’s going to be a tough test for us because Loughborough have started the season well a level above us, so to get a win would be a massive result for us and show where we’re at.

“This is a national cup competition with a Wembley final at the end of it.

“But we’ll just take each match as it comes.”

Turner is proud of the direction that the club is taking.

“Since the chairman got involved with the club it has gone from strength-to-strength on and off-the-field,” he said.

“The lads have really brought into what the club is trying to do and each of the players really appreciates the efforts being put in behind-the-scenes.

“The new pitch and facilities are a fantastic upgrade and that can only mean positive things for the future of this club.

“It’s really exciting times for everyone involved and hopefully this can be the start of some real progression for the club.

“It would be great to see a big turn-out of supporters at Wednesday's game to create a special atmosphere that can really help drive us on.”