Barnet striker Aaron McLean says the Bees can be amongst the 'top group' of teams in League Two but admits they must find a ruthless streak in their game first.

McLean went a long way to helping Martin Allen's men find that on Saturday when he scored the Bees' second equaliser in a 3-2 victory over Stevenage at The Hive.

It was the first time Barnet have scored three goals in a single game since promotion and just their second win since lifting the Conference in April.

McLean, 32, joined on a short-term contract in mid-August and insists he has seen enough to suggest the Bees can be competing at the top end of the table rather than worrying about an immediate return to non-league football.

He said: "Realistically we have got a chance of being in that top group. It is the consistency [we need to find].

"The teams that get out of this league are the teams which are consistent and when you can’t win a game, you don’t lose it. That is the ruthless streak we need to get into our game.

"It is the players who have to get that – the manager can only do so much. If we do that then we have got a chance.

"We need to put a run together – which we know. It is just building blocks [at the moment]. This is the first block, we need to make sure we build on that in the next game."

Whether or not McLean will be around to help push Barnet up the League Two standings remains unclear, though.

The former Peterborough United and Hull City striker agreed a three-month deal once it became clear summer signing Kevin Lisbie would be sidelined with a hamstring injury.

However, Lisbie is nearing a return and head coach Allen will be left with a decision to make when McLean's deal expires at The Hive.

The experienced forward, who won promotion from the fourth tier with the Posh in 2008, was coy about his future when asked.

He said: "It is a great club and I am really enjoying it.

"At the moment I have just got to concentrate on playing, making sure I keep myself in that team, scoring goals and all the rest of it will sort itself out."

Saturday's victory over Hertfordshire rivals Stevenage was just McLean's second league start of the season and the first time he has completed 90 minutes.

"I am getting there," he admitted. "You get sharper with games but I’ve not had many games of late but I’m still trying to play catch-up.

"Another 90 minutes will have done me good. The gaffer sticking me out on the right wing will have given we a little bit of extra fitness too," he laughed.

"The sessions this week have been really sharp and I felt the benefit of that – especially with the goal, the goal was exactly the kind of drills Garry Waddock has been doing in training."

And McLean was effusive in his praise of the set-up at The Hive, admitting Barnet players have no excuses as a result.

He said: "The facilities are first class. We don’t have any excuses, that is one thing about this place.

"Everything you need is right there. It’s now down to us to make sure we get that consistency. We have played well in games and not got the rub of the green but you can only use that excuse for so long."

You can read McLean's reaction to Barnet's second win of the season by clicking here.