Alex Rodman is relishing taking on top teams

He is now part of Paul Hurst’s plans as they begin their newly-branded Carabao Cup campaign with a tough-looking challenge at Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Forest boss Mark Warburton has admitted he will make nine or 10 changes from the side that beat Millwall on Friday night.

Rodman lined up against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United just days after the Old Trafford side had suffered a 6-1 home mauling to neighbours Manchester City.

United retaliated at League Two Aldershot by fielding Phil Jones, Nemanja Vidic, Park Ji Sung, Antonio Valencia, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen.

The Shots had previously won at West Ham, while also beating Rochdale and Carlisle to make that stage.

“We lost 3-0,” said Rodman. “It wasn’t too bad I suppose for a League Two side.

“It’d be nice to get a good run and play a big team and a nice financial boost as well.

“It can mean so much. There was a lot of press exposure, financially it’s good.

“Essentially it is only two leagues above but it’s nice for some of the boys to challenge themselves against players they see week in, week out and that light up the Premier League every week.”

Rodman continued his fine pre-season form last Saturday as he laid the ball on a plate for Lenell John-Lewis to claim a 93rd-minute winner.

He took home the Man of the Match bubbly after looking as sharp, strong and quick as he has in blue and amber after ending his injury-hit Notts County experience.

The former non-league man, who went to university in Nottingham, believes that after an intense pre-season, he is now showing something near his best.

“I think I am now showing fans what I can do,” he added. “Fitness is a big thing and I probably haven’t felt fitter than I do now.

“We’ve done a lot of work in the gym and on the pitches – which wasn’t always pleasant – but I thrive on the fitness side of things and enjoy being at the front of most of the running and being one of the fittest players at the club.

“Hopefully my best football can come out now.

“Doigy’s on to me about maintaining standards and reaching standards that he believes I can reach.

“I’ve just got to keep my head in the right place, keep working hard and show a consistent standard that will make the fans happy. It’s about repaying that faith.”

Rodman, who flashed in goals against Brackley Town and Wolves during a host of eye-catching displays this summer, believes there is a hunger to succeed etched into this group of players.

“It’s the type of individual we’ve got here now at the club,” he said. “It’s a collective group of boys that really want to push themselves to do well. There’s quite a lot of youth.

“A lot of people that want to prove themselves, whether they are young or myself or Shaun (Whalley) – we’ve come through non-league, we want to prove ourselves.

“Shaun turned 30 yesterday, we’re both 30 now. We want to prove ourselves each week.

“There’s a group that are all pulling in the same direction and want the same thing.”