Burnley striker aims for double figures
6:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport
By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter
MARTIN Paterson is ready to help fire Burnley back up the Championship table by targeting double figures.
The Clarets striker is just halfway there after another season interrupted by injury.
On the 24 occasions he has started, Paterson has been largely played out wide.
But the former Stoke and Scunthorpe striker, who found the net on 19 occasions in Burnley’s play-off winning season of 2008/09, is aiming to do his bit to push the club back towards the top six in the remaining 10 games.
“I’m not happy with my goal tally at all, but there are no excuses,” said the 25-year-old.
“No matter where you play you can still score goals, so it would be an excuse to say it’s because I’ve been playing out wide.
“I’ve been unlucky this year – there have been some good saves against me, some bad misses .
“We’ve got 10 games left and I’m looking to put my goal tally right in those 10 games, if I play.
“I’m not happy with it but I’m looking to change it every day.
“I’d take double figures.”
Paterson was unlucky to have a goal chalked off for a dubious offside decision at Charlton two games ago.
“It was onside,” he said.
“I’m completely level. There’s nothing you can do.
“I think there’s a couple more goals in me until the end of the season.
“At the moment I’d be happy with double figures.”
And Paterson believes he will benefit by continuing in the central striking role he has taken up in the last two games, alongside Charlie Austin.
“I love playing up front,” said the forward.
“That’s my position. I've said all the time I’m a centre forward.
“When I’ll be judged is up front and running in behind defences and getting after centre halves. That’s what I do very well.”
He feels not playing too often in that position has impacted on his goals return.
“I haven’t had a full season up front, whereas other seasons I have,” he said.
“I think it would be unfair to say, ‘He’s only scored five this year’.
“But you’ve got to look at times the work I’ve done going the other way on the flanks.
“I don’t want to use it as an excuse because it’s not in my nature. If the team required me and if the manager requires me to play out wide to do jobs for the team I never ever refuse, I always work hard.”
