In pursuit of a common goal

WORKING HARD . . . Oumare Tounkara knows he can score more goals for Athletic.

Midfield stars join strikers in bid to hit double figures
FINDING a fit and available striker who scores upwards of 20 goals a season is not the easiest task for any club that doesn't have the odd million quid knocking about in its bank account.

Barring a quickfire take-over by an oil baron, there is little chance of Athletic having such funds to splash out before the transfer window closes.

That isn't to say that manager Paul Dickov doesn't have his eye on one or two goalscoring options — possibly on a loan basis.

But if Athletic can't track down a 'fox in the box' within their means, it will be for others to chip in to help the club reach its play-off goal in npower League One.

On current form, that means the burden being placed on the club's two biggest goal threats Oumare Tounkara and Chris Taylor, who have seven and six goals respectively for the season so far.

Captain Reuben Hazell also hopes the club's midfielders Dale Stephens (eight) and Dean Furman (five) can continue to muscle in on the scoring action.

"The two front players have a good partnership and work on it well, with Chris setting up Oumare's opening goal on Saturday against Brentford," said Hazell, who is confident the squad can achieve a top-six finish.

"Tayls has done well for us both up front and out wide, while Oumare has played every game and hardly ever gets taken off.

"So he has done well for a young lad in his first season. Obviously we would like more goals from him and he is working on that in training.

"If we can get Dean Furman, Chris Taylor, Dale Stephens and Oumare into double figures for this season then that will be a big help for us."

Midfielder Furman is delighted to be among that clutch of players, particularly given his lack of scoring last term when playing in a more restrictive role.

"It was a major disappointment last season that between myself and Dale, we had two goals — and none came from me," Furman said.

"This season between us we are on 13 and looking to improve on that figure as well.

"Getting forward into the box . . . it is great that we have got goals coming from all over the park.

"We just need skipper Reuben to chip in now as we are waiting on him!"