Blues boss Paul Jewell says adding a 20-goals-a-season striker to his squad remains his priority for the summer, along with a holding midfield player. The Town manager is reasonably pleased with his side’s defensive record but says the Blues haven’t scored often enough.

Speaking prior to Saturday’s 1-0 win at Bristol City, Jewell said: “I think what stands out for us this season is that we haven’t got a 20-goal-a-season man.

“Our goals against ratio isn’t that bad. I think we’ve conceded fewer goals than Leeds and about the same as Norwich.

“But our goals for column isn’t good enough to be a promotion-chasing team. That’s one area where we need to improve.“

Jewell says Town can’t rely too much on teenagers Connor Wickham and Josh Carson for goals next season: “We have to remember that they’re only kids.

“Josh has broken on to the scene and done very, very well and Connor’s been spoken about an awful lot and handles it very, very well. But we want to bring competition in at the top end of the pitch, as well as everywhere else.”

Adding a holding midfielder is also very much on his summer wish list: “I think another area where we need to improve is by bringing in a defensive midfield player. We’re very attacking and the lads have done great but we just leave ourselves a bit open to the counter-attack, certainly at home.

“We’ve got to have that discipline from a holding midfield player just to give the back four a bit of protection.”

Jewell wasn’t aware that former boss Roy Keane was looking at similar players last summer and had come close to signing Shaun Derry, someone who has subsequently become one of almost-certainly-promoted QPR’s key men.

The Town manager says like Rangers, his successful sides have featured a number of senior players in that vein: “The promotion teams that we had at Wigan and Bradford were called ‘Dad’s Army’ sometimes because we had experienced players and sometimes you need that experience, added to youth, to get you up.”

Photo: Action Images

choprawontcome added 06:36 - Apr 18 Jon Walters anyone?
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DiamondGezzer added 06:54 - Apr 18 Thebeat :- You beat [ no pun intended ] me to it. Also, on the topic of looking abroad, I believe our friend in Sweden [ Steve ? ] suggested various names he felt were worth a shot. It isn't a million miles away to have a look, and surely we have someone scouting europe ?
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Lamby95 added 08:38 - Apr 18 Tractorblue99. Craig Davies?
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TomCrowvers added 09:03 - Apr 18 Sheff Utd heading out so why not take a punt on Darius Henderson? Billy Sharp from Doncaster is the obvious choice. Good strike rate, with potential to get better.
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trueblue62 added 09:26 - Apr 18 Mungo, nice to see someone else has noticed Clayton Donaldson. He is available on a free from Crewe this summer. Crewe fans are not happy that he has not been re-signed. I'd be surprised if miser Clegg is not already giving him a close look.
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ArnieMsBigToe added 12:30 - Apr 18 I do not profess to be an expert on such matters, but surely Luke Hyam is a holding midfielder. He did well under the tyrannical one. Surely we should give him another go. Providing he is a holding midfielder that is !!
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superpriskin added 13:53 - Apr 18 My name is poor, I know. But it was after the Arsenal game I made this account. Anyways.. Mackail-Smith - looks good Graham - Too Good how about, a support man behind Connor someone along the line off Giovanni dos Santos he was super when we had him on loan.. But yes we cant just rely on Connor we need someone else there..
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h32 added 23:02 - Apr 18 Craig Davies at Chesterfield (my other team) is a player worth taking more than a cursory look at I can tell you - he deserves to be playing at a higher level and would be a good signing.
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