In-form striker Paddy Madden is confident he will achieve his target of hitting twenty-plus goals this campaign.
Speaking to The Iron Player, he said: “My aim at the start of the season was to hit at least twenty goals so that’s still my target - I’m confident I can do that.”Scunthorpe’s game against Bradford on Saturday will mark a milestone for the 24-year-old in that he’ll be making his 200th career appearance.
“Obviously it’s a nice thing to have,” said Madden. “But I’m just going to treat it like any other game.
"Hopefully I can get on the score sheet and do whatever I can to help the team get three points.”
The former Yeovil man is enjoying a rich run of form in front of goal lately, something he hopes to prolong. Madden insists the goal at Worcester on Wednesday night is his, and disputes any claims it should be attributed as an own goal.
He smiled: “If they give me that goal from the other night it’ll be five goals in five games. I’m on a good run at the minute so hopefully it continues. Bring on the game.”
The Irishman recognises that Saturday’s game against Bradford will not be easy. “It’s obviously going to be a hard game,” he said. "But every match in League One is tough and, as we learned the other night against Worcester, any game of football can be difficult.
“Bradford will prove a tough test as they’re quite high up in the league but the way we’re playing at the minute - especially away from home - we feel like we can beat anyone.”
Scunthorpe will have Richard Brindley, Luke Williams and Liam O’Neil back in contention after they missed Wednesday’s FA Cup clash through ineligibility, something Madden says can only help the team.
“We’ve got three good additions to come in and boost the squad and we’re all looking forward to the game. We’ll go there full of confidence,” he said.
Scunthorpe, like most teams, have a hectic match schedule surrounding Christmas, but this is not a problem for Madden, who described Wednesday’s 120 minute plus penalties clash as “just like any other game” in terms of fitness levels.
Madden’s time in between games and training will be spent with his family over the festive period, something he is looking forward to.
He said: “My family are coming over on Tuesday and are staying until the 29th. It’ll be nice to spend some time with them as I haven’t seen them in a while."
See much more from Paddy Madden, Mark Robins and Sam Slocombe on The Iron Player.