Manager Joe Royle has backed strike partnership Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi to become the first Town front pairing to score 20 league goals each in a season since Ray Crawford and Ted Phillips.

Both current forwards have already scored 14 and have more than enough time to grab more. Legendary frontmen Crawford and Phillips netted 33 and 28 goals respectively as the Blues became League Champions in 1961/62.

Royle says he expects Bent and Kuqi to make it to the 20-goal mark: "The way they are going, and with 15 games left, 20 goals is a reasonable target for them to reach this season."

The duo have pulled out of international matches with the England U21s and Finland this week because of knocks. However, both are expected to be OK to line-up for the Blues against Leicester City on Saturday.

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