IT WOULD be nonsense to suggest that Charlie Wyke is going through a bit of a goal drought.

True, he was not credited with Saturday’s winner against Peterborough despite the striker’s best efforts and the tannoy announcement.

That left Wyke without a Valley Parade score for the first time since his deadline-day move from Carlisle.

One game minus a goal is not the issue nagging away at the centre forward, who has made a seamless switch from one promotion push to another at the next level up.

But there is an itch that needs scratching for the free-scoring frontman.

Of his 22 goals so far, 17 of them have come at either Carlisle’s Brunton Park base or Valley Parade.

Wyke last netted on his travels on New Year’s Eve when Carlisle won 3-2 at Notts County. So he is still looking to open his away account for 2017.

“I didn’t know it was that long ago – but I need to start pulling my finger out,” he said.

“I don’t want people thinking I’m just a home striker. I haven’t really looked at the stats but obviously scoring away from home is something I need to work on.

“I’m confident enough and hopefully I can manage some away goals now to get us a few wins.”

Wyke has still been an effective part of the team on the road and has a couple of assists to his name.

He cleverly linked up for good finishes from Nicky Law at Bristol Rovers and Jordy Hiwula against Fleetwood.

But Wyke admitted he was a muted figure on their last away trip to Port Vale, even though Alex Jones ensured he celebrated a first victory in City colours.

The target man was troubled by the effects of a virus but was determined to play through it.

“I probably shouldn’t have played but I didn’t let anyone know and fortunately we still got the win,” he said.

“You don’t want to be coming in as the star striker and then saying you’ve got man flu and have to miss games! I just needed to man up and get on with it.”

Suitably recovered now, Wyke will be eyeing the approaching visits to Coventry and Charlton as the ideal opportunity to put that absence of a recent away goal to bed and continue his best-ever season’s haul.

He said: “I don’t really set targets but as a striker, it would be nice to score 25 goals now. I’m close to it so a few more than that would be good.

“I suppose every striker at the start of the season wants to get 20 goals. People always say that’s what you are judged on.

“Thankfully I’ve got past that now on 22 and hopefully there will be more to come in the games we’ve got left. It’s a good position to be in.

“I scored 17 last year and missed a big chunk of the season, so I think I would have got there otherwise. I’m just glad I’ve kept it going and I can get to 25 or maybe even 30 goals.”

Nobody should rule that out for a player who has netted 17 since November. Wyke is brimming with confidence, even allowing for his apparent dry spell away from home.

“Towards the start of the season, I went on a seven-game drought and you do start thinking about it too much,” he said.

“You’ve just got to back yourself and it will happen. Keep doing what you always do and the goals will come.

“I’ve noticed teams have been sitting off us because we are playing so well. It seems that the box is a lot more compact at the minute.

“I just think that with the service we’ve got, we’re always going to create chances.

“We’ve got some good creative players, so the strikers know they will get the opportunities to score.”

Wyke is not alone in bridging the gap from Leagues Two to One without a problem. Winger Alex Gilliead, a former team-mate in Cumbria, has caught the eye.

Wyke said: “Alex is a great player with a bright future. He just needs to keep working hard but I think he’s been terrific.”

City approach their final ten matches firmly ensconced in the promotion picture. Third-placed Scunthorpe play their game in hand at Charlton tonight as the race hots up.

But Wyke remains philosophical about the drama to come and said: “You can’t think about it too much. It’s important to stay relaxed and do our jobs.

“But I know we’ve got the squad that can get us promoted.”