Town top scorer Daryl Murphy is anxious to take his goal tally to 20 — the quicker the better according to the Republic of Ireland international.

The 31-year-old striker will be hoping to reach the landmark at Fulham this weekend as Mick McCarthy’s men look to follow up their midweek home win over Sheffield Wednesday with another three points to maintain the pressure on the only three clubs — Middlesbrough, Bournemouth and Derby — currently above them in the Championship table.

Murphy said: “I want to get goal number 20 as soon as I can. I want to score in every game I play and I know I will get chances. It’s just a case of taking them and hopefully I can get it on Saturday.

“The 20-goal target is a nice one to aim for because you know that if you can score 20 goals you are doing really well. I’d like to get number 20 as soon as I can then kick on and get a few more.

“I had 17 just before the New Year and I’ve only scored two since then but you are always going to hit a patch where you’re not scoring.

“But I’m still getting chances, which is the main thing. If I wasn’t getting chances I’d be worried but I’ve had them in every single game and while it is obviously disappointing when I don’t convert one I know there will be another opportunity.”

Murphy had netted just once in six league and cup games prior to the Owls’ visit to Portman Road on Tuesday, when he cancelled out Kieran Lee’s opener soon after the restart to pave the way for skipper Luke Chambers’s clincher with his first goal of the current campaign.

He added: “People have asked if getting to the 20 goals mark had been burning at the back of my mind but I hadn’t really thought too much about it. If my performances are good and I’m getting chances I know I’ll score a few.

“But at the start of the season, to be honest with you, I probably never thought I’d get to where I am now. But having done this well I want to get the 20th and then go on to score as many as I can.

“I always believed in my ability and liked to think that one day I would get 20 in a season. As a striker it’s natural that you want to score goals and any time I’ve had a run of games as a striker I’ve scored a decent amount.

“But I think in the last few years, with the faith the gaffer has shown in me, playing me regularly and more often than not for a full game, it has given me more confidence and I want to repay him for that by scoring as many as I can.”

David Johnson was the last Town player to hit the 20 league goals mark when he netted 22 during the 1999/00 promotion campaign.

Photo: Action Images

stevelincsexile added 07:08 - Feb 13 No one deserves it more and then go on and get thirty.
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jabberjackson added 07:25 - Feb 13 If one of us expected Murphy to hit 20 goals this season then I'm a Dutchman He has been quite superb, and with CB our player of the season so far If he was 25 the Prem would be all over him like a rash and figures like 15 million would be being bandied about
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Gingerblues added 07:36 - Feb 13 26 is my guess as a season total. Where would be without him this season? 15th 16th?
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ArnieMsBigToe added 13:19 - Feb 13 How about 31 goals? That would match his age!!
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carsey added 13:43 - Feb 13 All round nice guy and a decent player who works hard even when not having his best day. Would like to see him hit a hat trick before the season is out - he deserves it.
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