Top scorer David McGoldrick has drawn comparisons between Town teenager Jack Marriott and former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen.
"Jack is a goalscorer, a poacher,” McGoldrick said. "He’s like a young Michael Owen. When he has his back to goal he tries to do a 180-degree turn and shoot, even if he has a defender right behind him.
"He just wants to score goals, which is a great asset to have. I definitely think he has a future in the game. He is training with us every week and he’s a really polite boy.
"He is working hard and listening to what the other strikers say to him. I think he’ll have a good career if he keeps his head down.”
The 19-year-old, who scored both goals for the U21s in their 2-2 draw at Swansea yesterday, made his senior debut on the final day of last season, coming off the bench with half an hour left in Town’s 2-0 defeat at Burnley, but has yet to add a second appearance, despite having been amongst the subs on a number of occasions in recent weeks.
McGoldrick has declared himself satisfied with his own season so far but is adamant he can do even better.
The 25-year-old former Notts County, Southampton and Nottingham Forest frontman said: "Yes, it’s going alright. I’d like to score in every single game — that’s what every striker wants — but obviously it’s about working for the team when you’re not scoring.
"I’m doing that as well and as long as the gaffer keeps picking me I’ll be giving it my all, trying to score goals and working for the team.”
McGoldrick admits he is his own worst critic and added: "I believe in my ability and I expect a lot from myself. At Bolton last week the gaffer had to tell me to keep going because I was a bit peed off with myself that I hadn’t scored.
"In the end, though, I got the goal that earned us a deserved point and the gaffer came to me and said ‘I told you to keep going, to get your head out of your hands’. It was a vital message from him and it paid off.
"When you are self-critical, like I am, you can start feeling sorry for yourself when things are not going your way. I used to be a player who always wanted the ball, no matter if I was having a good or a bad game.
"The gaffer has said he believes in me and what he was saying with his message at half-time at the Reebok was to keep trying to make things happen. Luckily it did when the ball bounced for me.”
McGoldrick has six goals to his name and will now be attempting to reach double figures as quickly as he can.
He added: "It’s not a bad return but I could have scored more. I was told long ago that it was all about getting chances. It’s when you are not getting chances that you have to start worrying. But I’m getting them and I’m putting some of them away.
"Six is a decent tally but I’ve got to keep going because I want to score loads more. Obviously, though, I want the team to win so that’s always the main thing. Hopefully I can make a contribution on both fronts.
"For any striker double figures means success and the sooner the better. Another four will get me there and hopefully they will arrive as soon as possible.”