Beckford has 30-goal target in his sights (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Beckford has 30-goal target in his sights

3:37pm Thursday 23rd October 2008 in Sport

Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio are on course to become the first Leeds strikers to share 40 goals in a season since Lee Chapman and Carl Shutt in 1991.

With 12 league matches and five cup ties played so far this season, the pair are already halfway towards the big 40 target.

Beckford leads the way with 13, while Argentinian Becchio has netted in the last three games to take his tally to seven.

In United's first season back in the old First Division, Chapman and Shutt grabbed 42 goals between them, Chapman leading the way with 31 and Shutt scoring 11.

If Becchio is on the mark again against Walsall at Elland Road tomorrow he will become the first Leeds player to score in four successive matches since Mark Viduka struck against Manchester City, Birmingham, Leicester and Blackburn in 2004.

Beckford netted 20 times last season, sharing 31 goals with Tresor Kandol, who is now on loan at Millwall.

Against Leyton Orient in midweek, Beckford should have added to his 13-goal tally but he was the victim of superb goalkeeping by Glenn Morris as well as missing a penalty and hitting the woodwork three times.

Barring injury he should go on to become the first player since Chapman to score 30 times in a season for Leeds.

Manager Gary McAllister said: “I hope Becks will be chomping at the bit to score against Walsall after what happened against Orient. He is a natural goal-scorer.

“I am not going to linger on the fact that he missed a few chances. All strikers miss chances but we are expecting him to be in there again getting his head on things and getting on the end of final passes as they come into the box.

“There is a good understanding between the two strikers. They complement each other well because there is a nice contrast in styles.”

McAllister added: “Luciano’s English is improving. It has been a big change for him and in a couple of months he will see an even bigger change when the climate starts to deteriorate, but he is enjoying himself and you can see that in his play."

Rui Marques has returned to training after missing the Orient game with a back injury but Andrew Hughes is again doubtful against Walsall on Saturday with a groin injury and lan Sheehan (hamstring) will be out for another two or three weeks. Paul Huntington (groin strain) is close to returning to fitness.