Lee’s sights on big impact

LEE HUGHES: ‘I’ve always had a decent record during my career by scoring about one goal in every two games — I want to continue with that’

CONFIDENT Athletic striker Lee Hughes isn’t afraid to set himself a stiff target for the new campaign. 

In his first full season at the club, Hughes wants to blast Athletic into the promotion frame with a minimum of 20 goals.

He is relieved to be gaining full fitness after long-term groin problems, plus another hiccup which almost forced him out of the League One kick-off.

Hughes suffered a broken toe when Sean Gregan stood on it in training, but he recovered to make a big impact from the subs’ bench against Millwall and has since started the last two games.

Hughes said: “I trained hard all over the summer and the main thing I was feeling, which was the groin, is in great shape now.

“I had an operation called an abductor release to take the muscle off the bone, and now I can feel my sharpness coming back.

“It always takes a few games, but the biggest part of my job is to score goals and that’s what I’m concentrating on doing.

“You try not to look too far ahead, but I’ve always had a decent record during my career by scoring about one goal in every two games — I want to continue with that.

“If I’m playing every week, which is obviously what I hope to do, then I would be looking to score at least 20 goals and take it from there.

“I’ve managed 20 a few times in my career and there was one year at West Brom when I scored 31 in the league, so another season like that would be nice!”

Hughes is yet to open his account this term and actually blew a golden opportunity at Rochdale last week when his first-half penalty was saved.

Yet his contribution to Athletic’s forward play has been vital — of the six goals they have scored, Hughes has been directly involved with five.

Against Millwall, with Athletic trailing 3-1, his appearance from the bench brought a penalty (and a red card for the man who fouled him), a cross which was volleyed in by Lewis Alessandra and a free-kick to ultimately win the game.

At Leeds on Saturday, it was a Hughes shot which came off the bar before Chris Taylor followed up. And then Hughes provided the assist for Taylor’s second.

The 32-year-old, who is approaching the first anniversary of his move to Boundary Park, is established as a cult hero among supporters.

And he’ll be even more popular if he reaches his target and becomes only the second Athletic player since 1978 to hit 20 league goals in a season — a feat last achieved by Chris Porter.

Hughes said: “Last year was a bit frustrating, but getting a good pre-season under my belt will definitely help in the long run.

“If that doesn’t happen you are always catching up. You don’t feel as fit as you possibly could, but I’m hoping to get plenty of games this season.

“The fans are looking at us to be top six, which is only right, and the players are just as hopeful of doing well.

“It’s a good dressing room and everybody likes playing for the manager, so there’s no reason why we can’t do it.”