CONFIDENT Billy Clarke insists there are more goals in his armoury after topping the scoring charts in his first year at Valley Parade.

The Irishman totalled 14 last term to finish three clear of nearest rivals James Hanson and Jon Stead.

It equalled Clarke’s best haul for six years since notching 17 in League Two during loan spells with Darlington, Northampton and Brentford.

Clarke, who opened his pre-season account against St Mirren at the weekend, is likely to play a more advanced role with the shift back towards two wingers.

And he believes that could help swell his goal tally this time around.

Clarke said: “Whether or not I play up front and that gets me in better positions to score, only time will tell. But I definitely feel I could get more.

“I played a lot of my games off Steady and Hans last year and I was pretty happy with the amount I scored.

“It was really from just before Christmas because I missed a chunk of the season early on. But I scored against MK Dons in my first game back and it went from there.

“I think I could have got four or five more without the injury so it went pretty well.”

Steve Davies joined in with full training yesterday and will add further competition up front alongside loan signing Luke James. But Clarke and James Hanson are likely to be the first-choice strike pairing.

Clarke was pleased to see the targetman reject Millwall’s interest during the summer and hopes to reap the benefit from more attacking width in the team.

He said: “I know Hans going was close but it’s always good for the team when you keep your best players.

“He’s been here for ages, he’s the big focal point of our game and really effective. If he just fends off all the big lads, hopefully I can get in and around him.

“We played this way around Christmas last year and I think it was our most successful spell as a team.

“I’ll always float around and get involved both with midfield and going forward. Whoever else is playing up there does need to be a focal point.

“It was myself and Steady at the time because Hans picked up an injury and we went on a good run.

“Steady pushed further on and I floated round again. Hans does the same.

“But we’ve got good players with the fluidity to play different positions. Josh Morris was on the left on Saturday but he can play in the middle easily, so we can mix things up.”

City, who go to Guiseley tonight, have just passed the halfway point in pre-season and the striker has been impressed with the fitness levels of the squad.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” he said, “probably ahead of where we would be.

“All of us came back to training pretty fit and personally I’m miles ahead of where I was this time last year.

“Our fitness has showed in the games so far. Normally the friendlies can lack quality early on and look a bit 100mph.

“We’ve played pretty well, although the results don’t really mean much. Ultimately these games are there for the fitness.

“But the closer you get to the first game of the season, the more you want to find a bit of form.”