Midfielder Ashley Jackson is ready to play the villain if it means ending England's Commonwealth Games hockey hurt.

The 26-year-old East Grinstead attacker, who is a key cog in coach Bobby Crutchley's side, was part of the team which dramatically lost out to India in the semi-finals of the last Games in Dehli.

The atmosphere on that night in the hockey arena was pulsating as thousands cheered on the home side, but Jackson does not expect a similar reception for England in Glasgow.

"I'm not sure this will be the place where we would get an atmosphere quite like that," Jackson said.

"I said previously it could be pretty cool walking out in front of how many thousands at the opening ceremony booing us. If you can't be the hero you might as well be the villain.

"We don't know what to expect. I think it would be better to walk out in front of how every many booing Scots than a silent crowd.

"As long as there is an atmosphere it doesn't matter if you are being cheered or being booed really.

"We are looking forward to seeing how it gives us some energy and momentum into the tournament."

England are seeded second behind World Cup winners Australia in the competition, but before they face their biggest rivals on July 28, Crutchley's side will face Wales, Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago, with matches against Scotland, Canada and New Zealand also slated.

Jackson expects a high-scoring start to the tournament before it reaches its business end.

"Generally in the Commonwealths it is a real mixed standard of competition," Jackson said.

"You have Australia who have just won the World Cup and us and New Zealand - we're second rank and they're third rank - and then there's a little it of a gap to South Africa and India and then there are some teams that are really ranked low down in the world so there will be some mixed games.

"Early on in the group games you will see some mixed score lines but as you get down to the knockout games it will become very tight."

Coach Crutchley has openly said he wants England to score more goals, something they achieved in the recent Investec Cup where England's men and women were both victorious.

As a key attacker in the side, Jackson - who was player of tournament and top goalscorer, claims there has been no secret formula to the improvement.

"It's all a work in progress," he said. "It's nothing that we have done technically or tactically.

"It basically comes down to a mindset and that's something that we are trying to address.

"It won't change overnight but we can take steps to that change happening every day."

With the goals starting to flow and the crowd having the potential to be a huge inspiration, Jackson is targeting a place in the final as a bare minimum.

He added: "We are second ranked here and we want to make the final. If we don't it will be a pretty disappointing tournament for us.

"It's pretty black and white but we do have a great squad and there's no reason why we can't achieve that.

"The pressure is there but it is a pressure that we are putting on ourselves."