BILLY Kee has backed Offrande Zanzala to fire 20 goals this season for Accrington Stanley.

The summer signing had to wait until this month to break his duck for the 2018/19 season.

But having now struck four goals in as many games after scoring the winner against Doncaster over a fortnight ago, top scorer Kee feels there is no stopping his new strike partner.

And he feels that the 21-year-old can help the club hit new heights in their debut League One season.

"Zanzi at the minute is on top of his game," said Kee. "If we can keep him like that we're going to be a right threat.

"He's got four goals already which is a great for a striker in his first full season in the league. I think he can hit 20 goals. If we can keep him firing he'll be a great asset for me and the lads up front.

"You don't know what you're going to get from him. He goes offside four times, he's onside three times, he nutmegs people nine times. He's a great asset for the club."

Stanley manager John Coleman had to make a change to his starting XI to face Bradford to accommodate Zanzala following his two-goal display in the 4-1 Checkatrade Trophy win over Macclesfield Town the previous Tuesday.

In the end it was Scott Brown who made way - with Sam Finley, who had been playing off striker Kee, reverting to his more familiar midfield role.

But Kee said he could have had no complaints if he had been the player sacrificed.

"He (Coleman) could have dropped me and I couldn't have really done much about that because at the end of the day we lost the previous weekend (at Shrewsbury) and Zanzi's scored two (against Macclesfield)," he said.

"In the week the two young lads were excellent and it showed with the result they had against Macclesfield."

Last season's Golden Boot winner Kee took his own tally for the season to six after scoring first in the 3-1 win over Bradford City with his fourth penalty of the campaign.

But the striker had to keep his focus during a three-minute delay between the spot kick being award and taken, after referee Kevin Johnson booked Bradford boss David Hopkin for his protestations over the penalty.

"You change your mind about four times where you're going to put it thinking 'Shall I go the same way as last time?' 'Shall I go down the middle?'," Kee explained.

"I just knew if I put my foot through it the goalie couldn't save it so I just had to hit the target. That's all you can do as a striker. I've taken a few of them now, and I've missed a few, but it was good to get that one.

"The disappointing thing was missing the header after that to make it 2-0.

"If you go in at half-time 2-0 up you're flying then. You know they've got to come out in the second half and get a goal.

"But in the second half the lads were brilliant. We played the conditions better than them and caught them on the break and the finish from Sean (McConville, for the third goal) was exquisite, we've seen him do that many times."

n THE draw for the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup has taken place, with Accrington Stanley handed an away tie at Tranmere Rovers.

The ties must be played by the cut-off date of Saturday, November 3.