FILIPE Morais has gone back to his playing roots – and he could not be any happier.

The Portuguese capped his first start for more than a year by scoring the opener as City demolished Walsall.

It was a fairytale comeback – even if James Hanson ultimately stole the show with his maiden professional hat-trick.

Phil Parkinson's decision to pair them together up front caught Walsall on the hop.

Morais had not expected to make his full return down the middle rather than out on the wing. Not that he was complaining at the chance to reprise a role he played regularly as a young lad.

He said: "I played as a striker the whole time when I was a youngster. I can play that role, no problem. I used to score loads of goals – I don't know what happened.

"They palmed me out on the wing because they probably thought I kept dribbling too much! They decided to use me out there because I enjoy crossing.

"But I love any position to play. At this stage of the season, I'm happy to go anywhere. I've worked so hard to get my opportunity and I didn't want to lose it.

"I was determined for us to win, whatever it took, and thankfully we did it. I just want to help drive us on to what we all want."

Morais knew who to thank when he nudged in his first goal since February last year. He made a beeline for the City dugout for a group hug with physios Matt Barrass and Chris Royston.

He said: "I owe the physios so much and wanted to celebrate it with them. I'm so thankful to them for getting me into the position I am now

"It was really emotional. I couldn't believe it. I was on my toes hoping for that chance to come to me and thankfully it did. It was a nice easy one and I just helped it in. It was an amazing moment for me.

"It was a huge gesture from the gaffer to put me in. It was a big call. I only found out on Friday when we were doing the team shape in training. That was it really, he didn't say anything to me directly.

"I had an inkling something was going to change but I didn't think it would be me in that position. I do enjoy that position and I feel I can be a threat. I loved every minute."

Morais was equally chuffed for Hanson, who came back with a bang to record City's first treble since Nahki Wells against Coventry in November 2013.

The hat-trick swelled top scorer Hanson's goal tally for the season to 13 – two away from his best-ever three years ago. Hanson has now moved into third in City's all-time list but Morais feels he should be scoring more.

"Jim's one of those players you need to push and push because he can produce moments like that," he said.

"You've got to be on him all the time because he sometimes prefers to do it for someone else rather than himself. He's that nice a guy; he needs to be more selfish.

"I like to think I can get the best out of him. I was delighted to have a little hand in his hat-trick goal as well. He was very thankful to me, so that was nice.

"We set out on Saturday to really push each other. We put those demands on ourselves and thankfully it worked well."

With a five-point cushion in the top six, City have planted one foot in the League One play-offs with two games left. A win at Southend next weekend will make absolutely sure – and Morais insists there can be no easing off.

He said: "You've got to keep the momentum going. Even if we were mathematically sure to be in there now, you still have to go into these last two games and really play well.

"You want to be strong going into the play-offs. You can't just turn it on and off. You have to keep that drive.

"When we're on the front foot like Saturday and have that athleticism in the team, that's when we're at our best. Walsall are a really good team but they caught us at our best."

Such a drubbing of a fellow promotion contender should send out a strong message to the rest of the pack. Not that Morais sees it that way. Rather than making a point with those around him, his only focus is where the next points come from.

He said: "We'll leave that to all the press and other people to decide what they want to think. We'll keep our feet on the ground and look towards Southend now.

"It's an even bigger game. We've got to go down there and put on a really committed performance like we know we can. Do that and it gives us a great chance.

"We know what we all want but it's not there yet. We've got to grind and work hard this week in training and make sure everyone keeps their standards really high. As soon as standards start slipping, you can come unstuck.

"We've got to clinch our place in the play-offs with both hands and then kick on again. They are massive games and we need to go into them with full confidence and really at it."