David McGoldrick is convinced he can beat his previous best Town tally of 16 goals this season — as long as he can stay free of serious injury in the current campaign.
The Town striker netted 16 times in 34 appearances in 2013/14, his first full season as a Town player, and he has scored four goals in his seven outings this term.
McGoldrick said: "It’s always good for a striker to be scoring goals. I should have had one earlier in the Bolton game last weekend — Skusey said the ball actually hit the burger van outside the ground — but it was good to get one in the last minute just to kill the game off.
"I only got five all last season but that doesn’t mean my target this season is six, it’s way more than that. I rate myself and my ability, and I think I should be in double figures every season. But we’ve got good strikers here at the minute and it’s hard to keep your place.
"Everyone feels they should be starting and I’ve got to keep my place. The best way I can do that is to be scoring goals and putting in the performances, and so as long as I’m doing that I’ll be where I want to be.
"Can I get 16 again? Yes, no doubt. I believe I’ve got the ability but a lot of things have to go well. The team has to be doing well, creating chances, and I’ve got to stay fit.
"If things carry on as they are now I don’t see why not. I’m up and down with my performances a bit but that happens and I feel I’ve been on song a few times. I feel I’m doing alright, playing my best stuff for a little while, and I want to keep it going.”
One criticism often aimed in McGoldrick’s direction is that he has a habit of dropping deep to seek possession but he hit back: "I don’t think that will ever change. I always say I try not to but when things maybe aren’t going too well for the team a lot of the boys look for me to do something.
"I see that as my responsibility, as well as scoring goals. I always want to get on the ball and never shy away from it, whether it’s going well or not. It’s just part of my personality. Some people say it’s not the right thing to do but it happens and I’ll always continue to get on the ball.”
McGoldrick was asked about the drop in attendances at Portman Road — the crowd at the Bolton game was the lowest for a league game since 1998 — and that many fans remain critical of manager Mick McCarthy’s preferred style of play.
He responded: "Fans are never happy, are they? We can’t always entertain and win. If we were entertaining and losing I’d love to see their response. The way last season ended we had to start well this season and we’ve done that, we’ve got results.
"We’ve had a tough time with injuries and for some games the back four have all been full-backs. It’s only been against Fulham that we looked like square pegs in round holes, as the gaffer would say, and other than that game we’ve stood up to the tests and done well.
"It’s credit to the boys the way we’ve dug out results when a lot of things haven’t been going for us. Five wins out of seven is fantastic.
"There are some tough ones coming up but they’re all tough. Bolton came down last weekend, bottom of the table and without a win, but it wasn’t an easy game for us.
"Leeds this weekend will be totally different — a good footballing team playing well and at the top of the league.
"It will be a real test for us at Elland Road and I imagine we’ll have to stand up. But with the start we’ve had and the confidence that has built up, it takes a little bit of the pressure off.
"We can go there, play our football and cause problems. It’s not really going to be an upset if we win — we’re up there and we all believe in our ability.”
Meanwhile, McGoldrick was told he is the highest-rated Town outfield player in the soon-to-be-released FIFA 18 video game and he laughed: "It’s about time they got the stats right! The lads are talking about it and one of us is making an appearance next week as part of the launch and will get a free copy. Everybody will be telling him to stick a few in his pocket for the rest of us.
"We still have the card school on the bus but a lot of the players are watching box sets. When Jonny Williams was here he would bring his PlayStation on the bus and he was like a little kid. He used to play FIFA with some of the boys and there will be some of them playing the new one when it comes out.”
It was in October last year that Crystal Palace loanee Williams famously moaned that he wanted to ditch the ‘injury prone’ label he was given by FIFA 17 and McGoldrick added: "I’m surprised I didn’t get that as well!
"I’m feeling alright now. In the past I’ve played on with injuries and there have been some stupid ones. I don’t think I’m injury prone, it’s just that I pick up some really silly ones. But I had a good pre-season and I’m feeling very fit right now. Hopefully it will last.”