Midfielder Cole Skuse is confident that Town won't suffer from a lack of goals as they attempt to mount a promotion challenge during 2013/14. Some supporters fear that last season’s major problem — they were the lowest scoring team in the Championship — will return to haunt them again.

But Skuse said: “It’s early days but when you look at players like David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy, Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor there will be many, many teams in the Championship — and maybe even above — who would snap your hand off to take those sort of players.

“Then, if you look at the quality we have in wide areas, and from training with Luke Hyam, seeing how he strikes the ball and finishes, there’s no reason why he can’t do that in games.

"My view is that we shouldn’t panic too much and that I’m sure the goals will come.”

Neither Skuse nor Hyam has managed to find the net this season but a lack of goals from midfield should not be a major concern either, according to the former Bristol City player snapped up on a free transfer in the summer.

Skuse added: “It’s not something we’ll lose sleep over. If the chances arise we’ll try to take them but you don’t know until the game unfolds when the chances are going to come. It’s about trying to get in the right positions to try to take them.”

Photo: Action Images

DiamondGezzer added 07:28 - Aug 22 Cole Skuse always sounds like captain material to me when interviewed and his performances on the pitch would seem to sudgest a great summer signing.
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tractorboybig added 08:14 - Aug 22 At least this squad talks a good game.
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BrettenhamBlue added 08:23 - Aug 22 Still think we lack that natural finisher. Someone who gives that clinical finish at the end of a move. Murphy holds the ball up well and I like his movement off the ball. He's good in the air but he's never going to be a goal-a-game striker! McColdrick's pace is good but Notts Forest got frustrated with his lack of end product- hence his loan to Coventry (where he did do well- albeit at a lower level). Frank Nouble? Still not sure about him yet. He's only scored 10 times since August 2009- not the greatest record.... Paul Taylor has a pretty ok scoring record- but not got back into the swing of things yet. Saying that- he only scored 12 goals in 48 appearances for Peterborough. He did really well at a lower level (17 goals for Vauxhall Motors) Its hard to compare all the above with Billy Sharpe- who has scored 51 times in all competitions since Aug 2010

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budgieplucker added 08:33 - Aug 22 Encouraging to hear Cole's assessment of Luke and the potential he sees for him scoring goals. Being able to strike the ball well though (although I would say that's something his predecessor "old leadboots" - Middlesborough's player of the season could never do) is not the only ingredient required to convert goals from his position at this level. Luke isn't the sort of player to beat three defenders and calmly slot it into the net so he needs to get copious bags of popcorn, sit down in front of the tele and watch as many "Warky" videos he can (but ignore the "Escape to Victory" one Luke that was playing with a laced ball) - or indeed better still take some personal coaching from the legend in terms of those other essential ingredients of anticipation and timing of runs.

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ArnieMsBigToe added 09:03 - Aug 22 PJisGod. I take your point about the current group of strikers. Somebody ( I can't remember who) posted on here a week or so ago, and said he thinks that MM and TC are waiting for the end of the transfer window to get close. . . and then, go in for Billy Sharpe when there is not enough time for any other club to launch a counter-bid. I think (and hope) that MM is deliberately playing it cool so our rivals are not alerted to the possibility of a late move for BS. Look what happened when we tried to get Charlie Austin from Swindon. All looked done and dusted and then wallop!! He signs for Burnley. It then got considerably worse although it didn't seem like it at the time. . . we got Chopra instead!! Keep you cards close to your chest MM!!

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bluefeast added 09:07 - Aug 22 Goals will come , 2 goals a game will see us promoted. 1 goal in each 45 mins as an average. Conversion of 1 goal from 3 on target shots means 6 shots needed. That's one on target shot every 15 mins. Now we pay our money and wish to be entertained. Surely the above is achievable.
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naa added 09:59 - Aug 22 I was thinking about this the other day. I would say that both Murphy and McGoldrick are 10 goal a season type players - McGoldrick might possibly manage 15. Tabb has hardly scored in his career, so let's put him down for 5 - which is very generous, I doubt Skuse, Hyam and Edwards will manage much more than 5 between them. So that's 35 goals - which is probably being generous. That means we need another 20 goals from somewhere to compete and another 30-35 to challenge for promotion. Therefore, I still think we need someone else - preferably in midfield. But I'm not here to be downbeat - I'm not worried about things at present, I just think we need two players from midfield to score goals, and our current midfield doesn't have that in it.

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Palestine added 10:15 - Aug 22 Naa - but reckon Smith and Chambers might get 5 a piece! Also reckon Taylor could get 10...
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naa added 10:55 - Aug 22 Taylor won't be getting anything if his season so far is anything to go by. He was fine at QPR (not contributing much I admit, but certainly not causing any problems for the team) and Mick hauls his off.
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MathieandMarshall added 12:30 - Aug 22 I kind of agree that the squad is still lacking goals. It is even more important that we are dangerous from set pieces (which we haven't been for a long time) - From what I have seen so far Anderson seems to have decent delivery from corners so if Smith and Chambers can weigh in with some goals (they are both capable) that will greatly improve our goals for column. Still need more creativity from midfield. Hoping Wordsworth will provide it.

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stinkiusminkius added 15:11 - Aug 22 ArniesBigToe - would be nice to get Billy Sharpe and my fingers are crossed. Although, if that is the hope, then I reckon it'll be a late loan deal - we're not exactly splashing the cash, plus the later the loan means he'd be available in the busier per-Xmas period. All total speculation though.
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theobald1985 added 16:17 - Aug 22 tomlin at peterborough has put a transfer request in i think. if we could get him it would be great-he is class
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lezoad added 18:16 - Aug 22 Also Steven Fletcher has been told to find a new club. MM managed him at Wolves and that was a massive success! You never know.
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