Town newcomer Giles Coke has tipped all four strikers in Mick McCarthy’s squad to acquire double-figure goal tallies this season.
Coke believes each of the quartet comprising Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick, Freddie Sears and fellow new recruit Brett Pitman is capable of contributing at least 10 goals between now and May.
The 29-year-old midfielder, who has signed a two-year contract after impressing on trial following his release by Sheffield Wednesday, said: "We’ve got great players all around the squad and the four strikers are, without a shadow of doubt, as good as anything I’ve played with in the past.
"We managed to keep McGoldrick and Murphy, which for me was a must, and we’ve brought in Pitman. We’ve also got Freddie Sears, who I really rate as a top striker. There are goals in all of them and there’s no reason why they can’t each hit double figures.”
The strikers’ goals, Coke insists, can help push Town into the promotion reckoning. He added: "We definitely have a good chance. There’s no reason why we can’t at least get into the play-offs again. That is what everyone is working towards and we believe it is a realistic target.”
Apart from his previous club London-born Coke has also played for Motherwell, Northampton and Mansfield since leaving non-league Kingstonian, who signed him after he was released by QPR as youngster. He has also played on loan for Bury (twice), Swindon and, during the closing stages of last season, Bolton.
He is delighted to have done enough to impress Town boss Mick McCarthy but admitted his brief trial period, which saw him feature in several pre-season friendlies, was quite a stressful experience.
Coke explained: "It’s the first time I’ve ever had to do that so it wasn’t the nicest thing. It was a bit stressful as well but I’m very happy to have signed my two-year deal.
"With a trial you have to perform within that period and you haven’t got months to get into it. You’ve got to do it straight away and luckily enough I impressed the manager and I signed.”