Phil Parkinson today urged Aaron Mclean to keep “causing chaos” to defenders and stressed: Team points matter more than individual goals.

Mclean faces Gillingham at Valley Parade still looking to get off the mark in a City shirt.

He has so far gone ten games without a goal since last hitting the target in his final outing for Hull at Middlesbrough in January.

Mclean had several chances to break his duck during Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Colchester. But despite failing again to get his name on the scoresheet, Parkinson felt the striker made a telling contribution to his side’s victory.

And the City boss insisted that the striker is justifying his place with his all-round game.

“I said to Aaron in the hotel before Colchester that the most important thing was that he plays in a team that wins,” said Parkinson.

“Help us to win the game. If that results in you scoring, then great, but the priority was getting the three points – and his performance really helped us to do that.

“Of course he wants to score and we want him to score. But what you need to do above everything is win games of football. His priority has got to be to play well to help us to do that.

“If chances don’t go for him, he must not let his head drop. He’s still got to contribute and I thought he did that fantastically well on Tuesday night. If he doesn’t score and the team win, then that’s okay.”

While Mclean is looking for that elusive first strike, partner James Hanson has netted six goals in his last nine outings. The targetman has taken on the mantle of chief marksman since top scorer Nahki Wells was sold to Huddersfield.

Parkinson is confident of a similar goal rush from Mclean once he lifts the pressure of getting off the mark. In the meantime, he is happy with what the striker brings to the team.

The Bantams boss said: “Ultimately Aaron is judging himself with the wait for that first goal. But once he gets one, I know he will be off and running.

“He didn’t get a goal the other night but there were so many good things about his game. I thought he was outstanding and caused absolute chaos at times.”