'Love-hate relationship' helps Craig Elliott get the best from midfielder Jonathan Wafula

Craig Elliott admits he has a ‘love-hate’ relationship with midfielder Jonathan Wafula.

The manager and player have worked together for a number of years, winning promotion with one another at Shaw Lane and currently looking to do the same with Boston United.

Wafula is currently sidelined having suffered whiplash in a recent road traffic collision.

However, he remains a favourite with Elliott due to his versatility.

But having no set-in-stone role can also work against the player, with 23 of his 51 appearances for Boston coming off the bench.

“He’s been a great servant to me because he’s a different type of player and he’s fantastic at what he does,” Elliott said.

“He’s so physical and strong in the air.

“But we have a bit of a love-hate relationship.

“He wants to play every week but I know his strengths and weaknesses.”

While manager and player may have different opinions about game time, Elliott is in no doubt what the dressing room thinks of the utility man, his go-to guy when protecting a lead.

“He’s so versatile. He’s one of those players who’s admired by teammates in terms of what he brings,” he added.

“He adjusts. He can play three or four positions and never moans about that, he’s a great lad.”

A knee injury picked up in pre-season saw Wafula make his first start of the campaign in the 4-2 Lincs Senior Cup victory over Grantham Town on November 5.

To date he has made four starts and 11 appearances this term. Proving his importance in helping to tighten things up, of those 11 times he has joined the game late, Boston have only conceded once, in the 4-2 county cup win over Scunthorpe United on July 17.