There is a key ingredient to making sure Christian Doidge will keep scoring goals for Hibs

Striker is now proven in Scotland
20 goals must be the target now for Christian Doidge20 goals must be the target now for Christian Doidge
20 goals must be the target now for Christian Doidge

Christian Doidge’s early problems at Hibs have been well-documented but even when he was struggling to find the net I always felt he was one of those players who would always do the job asked of him.

Granted, he may not have the greatest of pace but he’s a handful, he never gives defenders a moment’s rest with his work-rate. And he has shown that if you give him the service he will score goals.

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Like all strikers he will pass up chances but that’s part and parcel of their game, the good ones simply put a miss out of their minds and concentrate on trying to make sure the next one goes in, that’s the mentality they need.

What I liked about his hat-trick against Dundee United was that each goal came from him being “between the sticks” while all three came from around the edge of the

six-yard box.

That’s what you want to see from your striker, someone who is in there putting himself in the position to score.

But the secret is to make sure they get the service. Paul Heckingbottom religiously stuck to playing just one up top which I don’t think suited Doidge who struggled to find his feet.

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However, when we get the ball in from the wide areas as we did on Tuesday night then there’s no doubt he’s a striker who gets himself into the right areas.

I’d agree with Jack Ross that he’ll go on to score plenty more this season. He’s got 14 so far which isn’t a bad return given what happened earlier in the season and, although he won’t say it publicly, I’d imagine Doidge is probably eyeing the

20-goal mark. I think that’s the total most strikers will set themselves at the beginning of the season and I believe it’s a target Doidge can meet.

Of course strikers are always judged on the goals they score, but Doidge leads the line well, he works defenders constantly and there won’t be too many who will relish playing against him. Even if he isn’t playing well he’s prepared to graft and play his part in the team and like many hitmen he hits goal-scoring streaks, five in his past four matches to go with the seven he scored in five games earlier.